Geoff Cooper
Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 17 February 2026
Christchurch weighs a state of emergency as flooding slams the city: suburban streets are knee deep in water, four people are rescued from a car stuck in floodwaters in Little River and huge downpours… Audio
First ever National Infrastructure Plan released
At midday today the first ever National Infrastructure Plan was released by the National Infrastructure Commission, setting out a 30 year plan and highlighting some huge challenges on the road ahead… Audio
Infrastructure Commission releases report into NZ's assets
The Infrastructure Commission's laid bare in a first report the state of the country's assets. The Commission's chief executive Geoff Cooper spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Power, water, roads: what's the long term plan?
Infrastructure around the country is in need of investment - from the electricity grid, to roads, public transport, hospitals and schools. The Infrastructure Commission Chief Executive, Geoff Cooper… Audio
Battle to keep historic aircraft in the air
Betsy, an historic American-built Douglas DC-3 aircraft, may have flown its last sightseeing or wedding flight out of Auckland's Ardmore airport. Audio
Report finds most NZers want to pay for use of vital infrastructure
Most New Zealanders believe that they should pay for their use of vital infrastructure, especially electricity and water.
That's among the findings of a report released today by the Infrastructure… Audio
Why big builds go over time and over budget
First this morning, large infrastructure projects more often than not go over time and over budget - so is it time for a new approach to costing them? Auckland's City Rail Link has blown out by… Audio
NZ cities losing battle for skilled workers
New Zealand's major cities appear to be losing out to Australia in the competition for sought-after skilled workers. Audio
Sight lines vs development. Aucklanders respond
Kathryn Ryan shares a selection of audience feedback about whether regulations protecting iconic views of Auckland's volcanic cones could be hampering development opportunities. Audio
Is Auckland's development hamstrung by the view?
A recent economic appraisal of the regulations to protect Auckland's iconic views concluded the rules significantly constrain economic activity in the city centre. Could there be a simple solution… Audio, Gallery
Insight for 31 August 2014 - The Realities of Auckland
RNZ Auckland correspondents explore what political party policies might mean for NZ's biggest and most diverse city Audio
Building consents at highest level since 2007
The housing market has had some relief today with the Reserve Bank holding off yet again on raising the benchmark interest rate, and new figures out showing a big rise in homes being built. Audio
Business News Update
The building of Auckland houses and apartments has hit a five-year high, though the housing shortage is still estimated to be between one and two years worth of supply. Audio
