Morning Report co-hosts Corin Dann and Ingrid Hipkiss along with sports commentator and sports newsreader Nathan Rarere, who presents First Up. Photo: RNZ
Journalist and television presenter Ingrid Hipkiss will join RNZ National's flagship breakfast news show Morning Report in April.
She will co-host alongside Corin Dann, and Nathan Rarere - who currently hosts the one-hour 5am First Up programme - will remain on air until 9am as he joins the team as sports commentator and sports newsreader.
Hipkiss began her career in the Parliamentary press gallery nearly two decades ago and has most recently hosted Newshub Late.
RNZ head of news Richard Sutherland said Hipkiss and Rarere were exciting additions to the team.
"[Hipkiss is] a strong interviewer, has a broad range of interests and she was outstanding throughout our recruitment and audition process," Sutherland said.
As for Rarere's extended role, Sutherland said RNZ wanted to make the most of his considerable talent and knowledge.
"Nathan has proven that he's adept at covering all kinds of news and stories on First Up over the past two years, and as he's also known as an outstanding sports broadcaster, we're looking forward to taking greater advantage of his passion and experience in this extended role.
"We know his early morning fans will be thrilled that he's also continuing on as the host of First Up."
Previously former Morning Report co-host Susie Ferguson presented the show alongside Dann in Wellington, but Hipkiss and Rarere will be based in Auckland.
"Corin and the majority of the Morning Report team will continue to work out of the Capital, but we've purposely added a couple of Auckland-based people to the team as we work to increase our audience share in our biggest city," Sutherland said.
Dann will return to the programme for the new year next week, with Monday also being Rarere's first day back with First Up and as Morning Report's sports commentator.
Meanwhile, The Detail podcast, which begins its fifth season on 30 January, will be joined by Tom Kitchin, formerly RNZ's regional reporter for Hawke's Bay.
Executive producer Mark Jennings said they were drawn to his enthusiastic reporting.
"We think Tom's ability to relate to listeners from all parts of New Zealand and his natural curiosity will bring a new dimension and balance to The Detail."
RNZ Concert refresh
RNZ Concert presenters Bryan Crump and Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali'i. Photo: RNZ
RNZ Concert will launch a refreshed programme schedule on Monday, in a bid to better reflect the listening needs of the audience throughout the day.
The station's Morning show, which welcomed Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali'I late last year as weekday host, will now feature new releases, favourites, as well as music and tidbits relating to events of the day.
Three to Seven with Bryan Crump - who has been at the helm since last year after moving from RNZ National's Nights programme - will host most of the interview content.
"It's exciting to now go live with the new programmes and schedule after months research and planning," said RNZ Concert manager Liisa McMillan.
TAHI podcast
TAHI's So'omalo Iteni Schwalger, Evie Orpe and Liam Brown. Photo: RNZ / Liam Brown
Rangatahi platform TAHI has a new podcast in the works with the recent appointment of So'omalo Iteni Schwalger as TAHI's first full-time presenter.
So'omalo comes to TAHI from Niu FM where he has hosted the Nights show for the past four years.
The podcast will be released three times a week starting in March and will feature music, pop culture, news, and events from a rangatahi perspective and interviews with young creatives and changemakers.
So'omalo will be joined on air and on screens by presenter and producer Evie Orpe (formerly TAHI digital journalist and Music 101 producer), with support from fill-in presenter Liam Brown (Tūhoe / Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa) and TAHI's team leader and music programmer Harrison Pali.