Morning Report for Monday 25 January 2010

8:56 AM.With Phil Kafcaloudes. Audio

8:52 AM.Shark sightings around the North Island this summer have forced lifesavers to close beaches, leaving swimmers stranded on dry land. Audio

8:48 AM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

8:47 AM.Residents evacuated from the Hawke's Bay town of Waipukurau are being allowed to go home. Audio

8:43 AM.The Maritime Union is warning that international shipping lines may stop calling at New Zealand ports unless the Government takes action. Audio

8:39 AM.Nearly ten thousand hardy souls braved the rain on Saturday to watch the first ever pre-season Super 14 rugby match played in Mangatainoka. Audio

8:35 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:29 AM.A quick update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:25 AM.A $45 million tax break from the New Zealand government for the record-breaking film Avatar is being defended as money well spent. Audio

8:21 AM.Afghanistan's transition to democracy has hit another obstacle, with parliamentary elections due in May postponed for at least four months. Audio

8:17 AM.The Green Party would support the capital gains tax on property, which was floated by the Tax Working Group as part of wider reform of the tax system. Audio

8:14 AM.A survey by a major recruitment company shows one in four employers expects to employ more staff in the next three months. Audio

8:10 AM.Armed police have a suspect on the ground and handcuffed in their hunt for two men over the killing of a man whose body was found in New Plymouth. Audio

7:57 AM.For God's sake, blog! That's the message the head of the Catholic Church Pope Benedict has given to priests throughout the world. Audio

7:55 AM.A tourism company using foreigners to act as Maori has been banned from Tauranga's port. Audio

7:51 AM.The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika which saw 74 lives lost last August is now grilling senior members of the company which owned the ship. Audio

7:47 AM.Dozens of people have been evacuated in the central Hawkes Bay town of Waipukurau as a fire in an abandoned hospital continues to burn. Audio

7:44 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:40 AM.A five-year-old girl is still undergoing surgery for severe facial injuries after being mauled by two dogs in Bay of Plenty. Audio

7:35 AM.Twelve days after Haiti was devastated by an earthquake relief workers are still struggling to get urgently needed supplies to survivors. Audio

7:27 AM.We speak with Ratana spokesperson Andre Meihana. Audio

7:22 AM.The Labour Party has left Ratana feeling secure in its support from the movement's followers. Audio

7:18 AM.Planning hearings begin today on an intensive dairy farming scheme proposed for the upper Waitaki. Audio

7:14 AM.Osama bin Laden has apparently claimed responsibility for the failed bomb attack on a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day. Audio

7:10 AM.The Armed Offenders Squad is continuing to hunt for two men wanted in connection to the death of a man whose body was dumped in a garage in New Plymouth. Audio

6:46 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:40 AM.Over the weekend, 3 National MPs toured the Upper Waitaki Valley, an area that may soon be home to intensive dairy farming. Audio

6:27 AM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:18 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:13 AM.Young members of the Ratana Church are urging their elders to change the date of the Ratana celebrations. Audio

6:00 AM.Hunt for two men continues in New Plymouth; new Osama bin Laden tape surfaces; Ministers tour South Canterbury where intensive farms planned; Labour leaves Ratana feeling secure in support; Ratana… Read more Audio