Morning Report

Weekly Political Panel: Nicola Willis and Vanushi Walters; Fast-track housing could leave buyers without council services; Matt Doocey responds to report into mental health services; Hotel operator responds to visitor levy funding announcement; Keala Settle on bringing Sunset Boulevard to Wellington

Tony nominated Maori actress and singer Keala Settle is set to return to the stage, taking on the lead role of Norma Desmond in musical Sunset Boulevard as part of Te Whare Whakarauika Wellington Town Hall's reopening programme. It'll be the first professional performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit show in New Zealand - in recent years a West End revival that transferred to Broadway was the hottest ticket in town in both cities. Keala, who was born in the USA and is of Ngati Rangitane, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu heritage spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from the UK where she's based.

Inanga, a native whitebait species, has been recorded spawning in Hawke's Bay again, three years after Cyclone Gabrielle. The Waikahu wetland outlet was heavily eroded during the cyclone in 2023, leaving much of the bank without the dense vegetation needed for the species. But since then restoration work has been undertaken by the regional council, through a funding partnership with the Department of Conservation and Te Wai Mauri. DOC Biodiversity Ranger Matthew Brad, who made the exciting discovery, spoke to John Campbell.

A Waiheke Island-based health trust is one of several organisations that's been told its home and community support contracts won't be renewed. It comes as Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand moves to bulk fund services in Auckland and Northland, with long-standing providers finding out their contracts won't be renewed. One operator says the changes contradict recent advice for improving services. Erin Johnson reports.

Business update for 9 September 2026.