Morning Report for Monday 31 October 2011

8:57 AM.Three Australian soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan; and the Qantas debacle. Audio

8:51 AM.The Royal New Zealand Ballet has showcased its biggest production yet - Sleeping Beauty - describing it as a 'beast of a ballet' meant for 64 dancers, but done with 32. Audio

8:48 AM.The public's five new options for a giant Hollywood-style sign on a Wellington hillside have been released. Wellington Airport had planned to build a sign saying Wellywood but in June, it bowed to… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Two rival political parties say tangata whenua should receive superannuation at least five years earlier than the eligible age of 65; Iwi leaders from Coromandel to Te Araroa near East Cape say the… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.The new Silver Ferns netball coach, Waimarama Taumaunu, hasn't got off to the winning start she'd hoped for, with New Zealand last night losing the series against Australia. Audio

8:36 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

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

8:08 AM.Simon Mercep, Brent Edwards and Patrick O'Meara question Labour Leader Phil Goff about his party's policies and campaign. Audio

7:57 AM.Businesses working out of Christchurch's temporary City Mall say it's been more hectic than Christmas since its opening on Saturday, with curious locals not just looking, but spending too. Audio

7:53 AM.A former Australian soldier has gone on the record saying that the people who helped protect Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi escape Libya included at least one former New Zealand special forces… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Some businesses affected by the Maui gas leak say they'll most likely have to bear the cost of being disconnected for close to a week, as their high insurance excesses mean it's not worth claiming. Audio

7:46 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:43 AM.New Zealand First is optimistic it'll get enough of the party vote to return to Parliament in November's election. The leader, Winston Peters, told supporters at his party's campaign launch that this… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.The Maori Party has started its election campaign by drawing a clear line between it and the Mana Party. It'll be the last campaign for the co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia who won't stand… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.The coroner investigating the death of the toddler Aisling Symes, whose disappearance sparked a week-long police hunt, has called for a major overhaul of the country's manholes. Audio

7:27 AM.Critics of the Labour party's policy to fund half the Auckland city rail link say the proposal is populist and shortsighted. Audio

7:26 AM.More than a thousand tonnes of oil has now been pumped off the stricken container vessel, Rena, since it grounded off the coast of Tauranga three-and-a-half weeks ago. Audio

7:18 AM.The National Party has launched its election campaign with a promise on asset sales aimed at heading off ongoing public concerns about its planned privatisation programme. Audio

7:15 AM.Air New Zealand's general manager for Australasia, Bruce Parton, says the airline will see some benefits from the Qantas grounding. Audio

7:09 AM.An independent tribunal in Australia has ordered an end to the bitter industrial dispute between Qantas and three unions that left the carrier's flights around the world grounded. Audio

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

6:39 AM.National says it would ring-fence any profits made from partial asset sales and put the money into a new infrastructure fund. Audio

6:37 AM.Qantas planes are set to fly again after a bitter stand-off between the carrier and three unions was brought to an end by an independant tribunal, which has ordered both sides to return back to the… Read more Audio

6:27 AM.The Mana Party says Maori people should be entitled to the national superannuation at the age of 60, and everyone else at 65-years old; Iwi leaders from Coromandel to Te Araroa near East Cape say the… Read more 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.The victims of serious crimes have quizzed top lawyers on what they consider to be failings of the justice system. High profile prosecutors, defence lawyers, academics and MPs turned up at the… Read more Audio

6:11 AM.A coroner has called for tougher oversight of manhole covers after an inquest into the death of Auckland toddler Aisling Symes, who drowned after falling into a drain in 2009. Audio

6:00 AM.National launches election campaign with asset sales promise; Salvers entering hardest part of Rena recovery; Critics attack Labour's rail link policy; Air New Zealand on hand to offer assistance… Read more Audio