Actor John Rhys-Davies has been a screen and stage actor for more than 50 years. Best known for his role as Gimli the puncacious dwarf in Lord of the Rings, he's also had roles in many other films including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and in the TV series I, Claudius, Shogun and The Untouchables. He is about to appear on the small screen here in a new black comedy starting screening on TV2 next week - Fresh Eggs - playing the crime fiction author Cutter Anderson.

The latest World, Pacific Regional and Sports News.

Pacific correspondent, Johnny Blades backgrounds the Fiji Malolo island resort controversy, the torture of a West Papuan with a snake, and a change in Bougainville mining laws.

A unique dance tour of the country is getting underway that sees a collaboration between two of the longest-running contemporary dance companies in New Zealand and China. Footnote New Zealand Dance and Guangdong Modern Dance Company have come together to create a show, called 'Hemispheres'. The tour of New Zealand kicks off today, February 15th starting in Auckland and making its way to Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington. It has already toured four centres in China....

Gisborne District Council Director Community Lifelines, David Wilson has the latest on the water leak, which plunged the city into immediate water rationing, how did this happen and what effect has it had so far?

Federated Farmers' mid-season survey has found the lowest level of confidence in the general economic outlook since 2009 - just after the Global Financial Crisis. We examine what's brought on the gloom with the organisation's vice president Andrew Hoggard and Beef and Lamb's CEO Sam McIvor.

The latest World, Pacific Regional and Sports News.

It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Oil and gas executives and energy sector insiders rubbed shoulders with environmental activists yesterday at a workshop designed to help create a plan for Taranaki's transition to a low emissions economy by 2050. It's one of 23 workshops planned ahead of a Just Transition Summit due to be attended by the Prime Minister in New Plymouth in May.

Mount Maunganui locals have launched a rebellion against Tauranga City Council over a controversial 2.5 million dollar park. The council concreted over the 55 parking spaces collectively known as the Phoenix Carpark, to create an open, urban park called Te Papa o Nga Manu Porotakataka. Now about 100 people are banding together to fight what they see as the Council's Tauranga-centric agenda.

An investigation has found vegetation growing near a railway crossing in Whakatāne reduced the view of a rubbish truck driver, who was hit by a train and killed. Tim Burfoot chief investigator at the Transport Accident Investigation Commission is in our Wellington studio. He talks to Guyon Espiner.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The government is being told to get out of the way and let Māori take charge to keep their own out of court and jail. RNZ has obtained a copy of the final draft of the Justice System Māori Outcomes Strategy, aimed at reducing the number of Maori in the criminal justice system. While some say it's progressive, others fear it's all talk and won't materialise.

No class action has ever succeeded in New Zealand and some believe the system is rigged in favour of big companies. The independent justice watchdog, the Law Commission, is about to carry out a review of the law surrounding class action cases. They occur when a group of people with similar claims take on an entity together to reduce legal costs and increase their likelihood of winning. Some top lawyers believe the current law favours corporations, not consumers, and are pushing for an overhaul.

A New Zealand businessman who has lived and worked in Beijing for the last 34 years says China's relationship with New Zealand Is deteriorating. David Mahon runs Mahon China Investment Management and says his company is concerned about the possible impact on the New Zealand economy. He joins us from Sydney.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The security threats posed by climate change, and growing global instability, will be among the topics discussed at a high level security conference in Munich on Friday (NZ time). Our correspondent in Germany, Thomas Sparrow, is in Munich.

The latest news in Cook Island Maori (Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani) - brought to you by our partner - Pacific Media Network.

New Zealand Cricket's high performance boss Bryan Stronach says White Ferns coach Haidee Tiffen has no reason to feel the full impact of the latest review of the team's World T20 campaign.

The latest Pacific Regional and Sports News.

Refugee healthcare deficient on Manus, Nauru - doctor; Iconic Fiji newspaper wrestles with the digital age; Mixed signals as PNG forces' APEC pay issue festers; Talks in Tonga on future of seabed mining in Pacific; Samoan NZ play takes its Pacific themes to Australia's Fringe

Australia has not provided adequate healthcare for refugees it detains offshore, a doctor says.

A Fiji newspaper marking its 150th anniverary is preparing to go through a difficult period as it negotiates the challenge of transitioning from its traditional models to the digital age.

Coastal weather report.