Morning Report for Tuesday 22 November 2011

8:56 AM.New research has shown the same speech can lose its appeal if delivered in too high a pitch. A deep voice may be the clincher for winning votes. Audio

8:50 AM.Six students at Hamilton's Fairfield College, the youngest only 13, have been taken to hospital after taking what may have been tainted Ecstasy pills. Audio

8:47 AM.In our series looking at the seven Maori electorates in seven days - all of the candidates standing for the Te Tai Hauauru seat are unanimous on one issue - lifting Maori people out of poverty; Two… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The Labour Party is defending a mail-drop to mothers on benefits, of a pamphlet that it decribes as hard-hitting, but not misleading. The flyer refers to National's policy that parents who have… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.The latest economic figures show the Canterbury economy is the fastest growing in the country. The National Bank Regional Trends data shows the region's economy grew 1.8% in the three months to the… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

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

8:28 AM.The Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal disaster has been told that employees were under a huge amount of pressure to meet targets before the explosion. Audio

8:18 AM.Asset sales and coalition partnership deals have emerged as central issues in the countdown to Saturday's election. Audio

8:09 AM.Primary school teacher unions and the principals' federation say the National Party's education policy is demoralising. In its policy National says it will clarify what is expected of schools, make… Read more Audio

7:58 AM.Sixty little blue penguins that fell victim to oil that leaked from the Rena container ship will be released back into the wild at Mount Maunganui. Audio

7:55 AM.The Green Party co-leader, Russel Norman, has paddled the last river of his tour on dirty rivers. Dr Norman says water is the main environmental issue this election, and is one of the party's three… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.The parents of the murdered British schoolgirl, Milly Dowler, have told an inquiry into media ethics how they were given false hope their daughter was alive, because a hacker was deleting messages… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:42 AM.To the United States, where talks aimed at cutting government debt are on the brink of failure. The deadline for a special congressional committee to agree to a way to find 1.2 trillion US dollars in… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.The death toll in Egypt's latest outbreak of violence has passed 20, as the police in Cairo continue to fight protesters demanding an end to army rule. Audio

7:29 AM.Six students at Hamilton's Fairfield College, the youngest only 13, have been taken to hospital after taking what may have been tainted Ecstasy pills at school. Audio

7:25 AM.West Coast farmers in the Grey Valley will be assessing the damage this morning after being battered by wild weather yesterday. Heavy rain flooded roads and properties, damaging crops, fencing and… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.The cameraman who recorded a discussion between John Key and John Banks without their knowledge will head to court today in an attempt to prove the recording was legal. Audio

7:18 AM.Primary school teachers and principals are crying foul over the National Party's education policy. They're opposed to National's plan to make schools more accountable for their results. Audio

7:12 AM.Political editor Brent Edwards was at the latest leader's debate Audio

7:08 AM.Labour Party leader, Phil Goff, says he expects Winston Peters to do the right thing and support a strong, stable Government if voters return him to Parliament. Audio

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

6:38 AM.Primary and intermediate school principals say they're angry and despondent at the National Party's education policy. Audio

6:36 AM.John Key and Phil Goff clashed over asset sales in a TV3 Leader's debate in Auckland. Audio

6:26 AM.Two tribes have pitched their interest and intention to build social and affordable housing - but say it has to be an investment which provides good financial returns; The Maori Party co-leader… Read more Audio

6:21 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

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

6:14 AM.Crunch talks between Qantas and two airline unions in a dispute over pay and conditions have broken down in Australia. Audio

6:00 AM.Key and Goff square off in TV leaders' debate; Death toll rises in Egypt after third day of violence; Tea tape cameraman heads to court; National's education policy comes under attack; and the… Read more Audio