Top Stories for Thursday 26 October 2017
The new government is promising to build 10,000 houses a year but many in the construction sector doubt an already stretched labour supply will be able to keep up. New Housing Minister Phil Twyford tells Morning Report Labour's flagship Kiwibuild programme will kick in almost immediately, but due to industry shortages it will take a few years to ramp up to the target average of 10,000 new homes a year. Many Civil Defence headquarters around the country may not be safe in an earthquake. Convicted double murderer David Tamihere is to seek a pardon from new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after the sentencing of a key witness in his trial for perjury. Before even being sworn in as Justice Minister, Andrew LIttle has confirmed Teina Pora will receive additional compensation for his two decades of wrongful imprisonment. The Ministry for Primary Industries is being dismantled. The new Labour-led government is splitting it up into three parts covering forestry, fisheries and agriculture. A new report says the 'basic building blocks' of human health are being threatened by the effects of climate change.
