Rnz: Morning Report

The Green Party is furious at the Housing Minister for refusing to guarantee that the Government's changes to emergency housing won't lead to more homelessness. The Coalition last month announced that officials would take a stricter approach to allowing tenants into emergency housing in the first place. The Greens say more people will end up homeless as a result, and when they asked Chris Bishop to guarantee it wouldn't, he replied, "no Minister can guarantee anything." Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick spoke to Corin Dann

Community housing providers are putting the brakes on building desperately needed homes because there's no guarantee of government funding after June next year. The Government pays rent subsidies to community housing providers, which they rely on to operate. But the funding is soon to dry up, leaving providers in the lurch, delaying construction on consented land that's ready to build. Housing reporter Lauren Crimp has more.

A search and rescue operation is underway in Hawke's Bay to find a crew member who fell overboard from a fishing vessel. The person was reported missing at eight o'clock last night, 11 kilometres offshore of Waimārama. Rescue helicopters crews are helping in the search as well as other vessels in the area. Hawke's Bay deputy harbourmaster Adrian Wright spoke to Corin Dann.

Greymouth squash star Paul Coll has won back to back tournaments after prevailing in an injury-curtailed final at the London Classic.

The Government has unveiled a 36-point action plan on Tuesday morning, listing projects it's promising to achieve by June the 30th. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A shipping container dressed as a house and ruled as public art by the Environment Court is causing angst in a Hamilton neighbourhood. And the stoush between its owners and the council looks set to continue with more legal action, and art, looming. Waikato reporter Natalie Akoorie has more.

Let's go back again to the 160th anniversary of the battle of Ōrākau, where dignitiries have gathered to remember the most famous of the New Zealand Wars. The battle in 1864, which took place east of Kihikihi, involved Māori from Tūwharetoa, Tauranga Moana, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Tūhoe defending the site from more than a thousand British soldiers. About 160 Māori died, along with seventeen British troops. Reporter Pokere Paiwai spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A new financial year has begun and with it comes a change in benefit payments, with a number of payments to New Zealand households increasing. There has been criticism from some sectors that benefit increases are indexed to the consumers price index, rather than average wage growth. And some critics argue a two-percent increase to the minimum wage actually represents a step backwards for those struggling with the cost of living. David Verry from North Harbour budgeting services spoke to Corin Dann.

A search is underway for a crew member of a fishing boat who was lost overboard last night 11 kilometres off the coast of Waimārama. RNZ reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to Corin Dann.

The principal of a tiny Far North school calls it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Four kids from Motatau kura are fundraising frantically to represent their region in a global robotics challenge, and their cash-poor but big-hearted community has swung in behind them. Peter de Graaf reports.

Overtaking on congested roads, speeding and taking unnecessary risks are some of the reasons police are giving for this Easter's high road toll. They say the weekend serves as a reminder for everything police do not want to see on the roads. Seven people have been killed in crashes over the long weekend. Four people died on State Highway 8 in Pukaki, while another three died in crashes in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tasman. Road Policing Director Superintendent Steve Greally spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Government has announced its new list of projects it's promising to achieve over the next three months. The action plan contains 36 bullet points to be ticked off by June the 30th. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand's World No.2 Paul Coll has won the London Squash Classic, beating Egypt's Mostafa Asal for his 25th PSA tour title.

Business News for 2 April 2024.

Thousands of psychologists are rebelling against rule changes that many fear will make it even harder for patients to get help. The registering body, the Psychologists Board, is proposing changes that mean some of them could be restricted in the types of conditions they are able to treat. Critics say patients could miss out, with the country already struggling with a dire shortage of care. Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.

The AA says the Easter weekend's road toll is another tragic reminder that more needs to be done to increase safety on the roads. Six people died in crashes over the weekend, the highest toll since 2021. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen wants to see a heavier police presence on the roads, and for roadside drug testing to be rolled out urgently. He also wants more research on whether reckless or extreme behaviour in vehicle accidents is increasing. Thomsen spoke to Corin Dann.

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

Latest news from Radio New Zealand's business team.

News from the rural farming sector.

New property listings are back to normal according to realestate.co.nz after years of unusually low listings. That's despite high interest rates and high inflation. In March, new listings were up nationally by 23.9 percent year-on-year and in all regions except Nelson and Bays and the West Coast, while stock lifted back to levels not seen since 2015. Prices meanwhile have remained stable even as demand remains robust. Realestate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams spoke to Corin Dann.