Morning Report for Friday 16 April 2010

8:56 AM.We cross to Canberra now to join our correspondent, Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:52 AM.The mayors of Whangarei and the Far North want to dissolve the Northland Regional Council; split its duties and assets, and form two unitary authorities. Audio

8:49 AM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

8:48 AM.Inshore fishermen want the 24-year-old quota management system to be reviewed. Audio

8:43 AM.The practice of genetic modification has received a significant boost from ERMA, the Environmental Risk Management Authority. Audio

8:40 AM.Back now to the first ever debate between Britain's party leaders, ahead of next month's general election which is still underway. Audio

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

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:29 AM.Flights in and out of northern Europe have been cancelled this morning because of a volcano in Iceland billowing ash into the sky. Audio

8:15 AM.Telecom's financial woes look set to continue, as an increase in competition begins to bite. Audio

8:08 AM.Air traffic across northern Europe has been brought to a standstill by a cloud of volcanic ash drifting from an Icelandic volcano. Audio

7:54 AM.The smell of motor fuel will permeate Hamilton for the next three days as the city hosts the next round of the Australian V8 Supercars series. Audio

7:51 AM.Suggestions that regional councils are running scared of the Government are supported by a ratepayers lobby group. Audio

7:47 AM.Approvals for home loans slumped to a record low last week and are down almost a third on a year ago. Audio

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

7:40 AM.The former Auckland mayor Christine Fletcher says she'd have no problem playing a support role to John Banks, if they're both succesful in reaching the council table of the new supercity. Audio

7:35 AM.About Three hundred people are believed to be still buried under the rubble of this week's major earthquake in China, which has already caused 760 deaths. Audio

7:27 AM.Former Justice ministers, Sir Douglas Graham and Bill Jeffries could face up to five years in prison if they are found guilty of misleading investors in the collapsed finance company, Lombard Finance.

7:23 AM.The rural communty is expressing its disappointment at the driving age increase Audio

7:22 AM.It appears New Zealand's nuclear free stance is no longer a hindrance with the relationship with the US it once was. Audio

7:18 AM.New Zealand's one-time relationship-rupturing anti-nuclear policy now seems no longer to be an irritant in the relationship with the United States. Audio

7:15 AM.Analysts says Telecom has lost any vestiges of its once privileged position in the market. Audio

7:13 AM.All flights from Britain to New Zealand have been cancelled as a result of the volcanic ash. Audio

7:08 AM.Air traffic across northern Europe has been paralysed by a cloud of volcanic ash drifting from an Icelandic volcano. Audio

6:47 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:41 AM.An independent telecommunications analyst is warning Telecom's financial difficulties could have negative repercussions for the whole of the New Zealand economy. Audio

6:35 AM.Ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland has paralysed air transport across much of northern Europe. 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.A South Auckland barrister says new research about homicides within families shows New Zealand is grossly failing women caught in situations of domestic violence. Audio

6:08 AM.Flights have been disrupted across northern Europe because of a cloud of volcanic ash drifting from Iceland. Audio

6:00 AM.Update from London on grounding of air traffic, More Telecom jobs may go, company may have to split, Signs anti-nuclear policy no longer irritant, Former ministers could face 5 years in jail. Audio