A shortage of relief teachers is causing problems for Northland schools - with rural and Māori schools the worst affected.
A survey of 80 schools over one week has found 92 classrooms with teachers absent for one or more days and no relievers available.
The Principal of Whangarei's Manaia View School, Leanne Otene, says she has just one reliever to call on where she used to have many.
She says sometimes principals can step in and teach for a day.
She told RNZ Northland reporter Lois Williams that often when no relief teacher is available, classes have to be split between other classrooms, and that's upsetting for the children - particularly those with special needs.

Northland schools face major relief teacher shortages

A Wellington man is fed up trying to get Bunnings in Lyall Bay to keep their plastic in check.
Steve Cronin says he's repeatedly asked the store to do something about the plastic wrapping that blows over their fence and towards the beach.
The hardware store says it's making efforts to stop its waste blowing away and while Mr Cronin says the situation has improved, their efforts still aren't good enough.
Meriana Johnsen reports.

Bunnings plastic blowing onto Wellington beaches

An ambitious joint Māori-Samoan bid to build a US$700 million tourism resort in French Polynesia has collapsed before it even got started. The Kaitiaki Tagaloa consortium, headed by the former MP and former Waikato-Tainui chair Tukoroirangi Morgan, failed to meet three funding deadlines set by the French Polynesia government. Walter Zweifel from RNZ Pacific has been following this story since the consortium's bid to build the Tahitian Village resort complex was accepted in April last year.

Māori-Samoan resort plan in French Polynesia collapses

The Court of Appeal is set to consider whether an international agreement governing child custody cases is being used as a weapon by abusive ex-partners.
The Hague Convention determines the country in which a child custody case should be heard. Ben Strang reports.

Hague Convention case could be catalyst for major change

The Black Caps are underdogs for tonight's sudden death cricket world cup semi final against tournament favourites India in Manchester.
New Zealand, the tournament runners-up in 2015, grabbed the last semi-final berth after a hat-trick of defeats nearly derailed their strong start in the tournament.
But Black Caps captain Kane Williamson says past results are irrelevant.
Our UK cricket correspondent Mihir Bose joins us to preview the crucial match.

Cricket: Black Caps v India - what are the odds?

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Markets Update for 9 July 2019

After a year of constant complaints from Wellington bus users about their overhauled system, another revamp is on the horizon.
Authorities are launching an online forum this week to get customer feedback and say they hope to have new timetables and routes in place by December.
Jonathan Mitchell reports.

Wellington's troubled buses reviewed by meetings, online forum

The High Court has ruled ACC should have covered a woman who died of a cancer caused by inhaling asbestos as a child.
Deanna Trevarthen was 45 when she died in 2016, after being exposed to asbestos as a child when she would hug her electrician father and would play at his work sites.
ACC denied her cover, saying her cancer needed to be the result of exposure in the workplace.
But the High Court has ruled her claim was a personal injury caused by an accident to her.
Ms Trevarthen's sister-in-law is Angela Calver. She talks to Philippa Tolley.

Cancer victim should have been given ACC cover - High Court

The government wants to change the sorts of vehicles people buy - by making gas-guzzling high emitters more expensive and electric cars cheaper.
Andrew Hoggard is Federated Farmers' vice president and its climate change spokesperson. He talks to Corin Dann.

Farmers question electric car discount plan

The government wants to change the sorts of vehicles people buy - by making gas-guzzling high emitters more expensive and electric cars cheaper.
Plans outlined by the Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter would slap fees on cars with high CO2 emissions and use the money to subsidise electric vehicles.
The government also wants importers to reduce the average emissions of the vehicles they bring in.
David Vinsen is the chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association. He talks to Corin Dann.

Vehicle importer disputes electric car discount plan

The most authoritative and comprehensive coverage of local and world events to be found on morning radio happens from 6:00am to 9:00am every weekday on RNZ National.

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Northland schools face major relief teacher shortages

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Bunnings plastic blowing onto Wellington beaches

Māori-Samoan resort plan in French Polynesia collapses

Hague Convention case could be catalyst for major change

Cricket: Black Caps v India - what are the odds?

Markets Update for 9 July 2019

Wellington's troubled buses reviewed by meetings, online forum

Cancer victim should have been given ACC cover - High Court

Farmers question electric car discount plan

Vehicle importer disputes electric car discount plan