Rnz: Morning Report

A Hawke's Bay charity is calling for more people to help mentor tamariki after a boost in referrals following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches adult mentors with young people to help them build strong, positive relationships - and its Hawke's Bay branch says the need is greater than ever. Reporter Lauren Crimp has the story.

As Christmas dinner plans draw closer, NZ Food Safety is warning people to handle raw chicken with care. The Ministry for Primary Industries advises home cooks to avoid washing raw chicken, keep chicken and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods and ensure the meat is cooked thoroughly before serving. NZ Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle spoke to Corin Dann.

New gambling regulations came into full effect over the weekend, with higher standards introduced and harsher penalties now placed on casinos and other venues with poker machines that don't comply. Among the changes, staff must undergo mandatory training each year, learning how to identify and act on harmful gambling. Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New gambling regulations came into full effect over the weekend, with higher standards introduced and harsher penalties now placed on casinos and other venues with poker machines that don't comply. Among the changes, staff must undergo mandatory training each year, learning how to identify and act on harmful gambling. The regulations have been described as unworkable and onerous for staff by the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand. Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government will find out at noon Wednesday whether it has reaped around a billion dollars from selling carbon credits, or whether it will need to wait until 2024 for the money. The income will at least partly be used to fund National's promised tax cuts. Climate correspondent Eloise Gibson reports.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Market Update for 6 December 2023.

A renewable-powered uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) named Bluebottle is on its way to the Royal New Zealand Navy. Currently in Sydney, the 6.8 metre vessel will be trialled for use in various Government roles including fishery and border protection. Royal New Zealand Navy autonomous systems staff officer commander Andy Bryant spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand's 15-year-olds have fallen to new lows in the 2022 international PISA tests of reading, maths and science. Almost 5,000 students were assessed from Aotearoa, with maths proving to be the weakest skill. The report shows our higher maths performers have halved, and low performers have doubled. But Vaughan Couillault, President of the Secondary Principals Association, is more concerned by the figures around students' happiness, food security and safety. Couillault spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, will host a national hui for unity next month, in a bid to bring together the many voices of Māori. The announcement comes only a day after thousands of people turned out at protests across the country against some of the new Government's policies and rhetoric, which many believe unfairly target Māori. The national hui will be held at Tūrangawaewae Marae on January the 20th. Kiingitanga Tuheitia's chief of staff Ngira Simmonds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.  

The Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, is calling for a national hui for unity next month, in a bid to bring together the many voices of Māori. The announcement comes only a day after thousands of people turned out at protests across the country against some of the new Government's policies and rhetoric. The national hui will be held at Tūrangawaewae Marae on January the 20th. Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann.

The Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova says it's "disappointing" they won't be playing in front of fans in their second game against Chile in Bogota.

Auckland council is meeting on Wednesday to go over the first proposal for it's ten-year-budget - which sets its political direction under Mayor Wayne Brown. The council's Budget Committee will discuss the Mayoral Proposal for the Long Term Plan, which features a slew of rates rises and some controversial changes for the city. Returning some of the land around the Port of Auckland, creating congestion charges, and putting rates up 19 percent over the next three years are just a few of the ideas put forward. Reporter Finn Blackwell has the story.

The widow of a Christchurch terror attack victim has described the agonising, almost 24-hour wait she went through to know if her husband was alive. Saira Patel was forced to leave the side of her bleeding husband, Musa, who had been shot while they were praying at the Linwood mosque. She says that day she repeatedly asked for information about him but was refused entry into Christchurch Hospital. Niva Chittock was in court to hear her speak to the inquest into the deaths of the 51 people who died in the attacks. [audio_play] Warning, this audio contains distressing details.

The UN is warning of an "even more hellish scenario" in Gaza as Israeli forces ramp up their offensive following last week's ceasefire. The Israeli Defence Force says that for every one Hamas fighter they kill, two civilians are also killed, however they say this is a 'tremendously positive' ratio given combat challenges. A 90-minute long "local tactical pause" was enforced overnight near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow further aid into the enclave. But the World Health Organisation says the situation in Southern Gaza is deteriorating by the hour. UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand's scores have fallen yet again in the OECD's PISA tests of reading, maths and science. The average scores in last year's tests of 15-year-olds are only slightly lower in reading and science, but in maths the average score fell by the equivalent of three-quarters of a year of learning since the last round of tests in 2018. Marks fell in many other countries too and Covid is getting the blame. Education correspondent John Gerritsen has been looking at the figures.

The new government wants to stop any more public servants getting extra pay for being skilled in te reo Māori. More than a dozen ministries and departments pay bonuses of up to $3,500 a year depending on how fluent a person is. Public Service Minister Nicola Willis concedes it can't dump the existing agreements but wants to put a halt to any future ones. She declined to come on the programme. Reporter Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

The coalition is dismissing widespread anti-government protests as inconsequential, but others say Māori anger at planned changes is not going to fade any time soon. Thousands turned out on Tuesday for protests - promoted by Te Pati Māori - to oppose the Coalition's policies on many Māori issues. On Wednesday morning the Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, has called for a national hui on unity to be held on the 20th of January RNZ Māori News Editor Taiha Molyneux spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed suggestions he has a split dressing room, saying he and his squad are "together".

Business News for 6 December 2023.