Morning Report for Thursday 8 December 2011

8:58 AM.The Emmy award winning character actor Harry Morgan - best known for playing Colonel Potter in the long running TV comedy, MASH - has died at the age of 96. Audio

8:57 AM.One of the country's newest MPs is calling for the traditional Muslim dress, the burqa, to be banned in New Zealand. Audio

8:55 AM.Staff at a wildlife park in China, have found out the hard way that there's no stopping love, after attempts to stop a romance between a ram and a doe failed. Audio

8:51 AM.The Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral says he's stepping down so he can better serve the city during the earthquake recovery. Audio

8:48 AM.A Gisborne District Councillor says efforts by two Canadian oil exploration companies to consult with Maori about their drilling plans, is a complete contrast to the actions of the Brazilian company… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Fans of the Aussie V8 Supercars are being warned New Zealand could lose its round of Australasia's biggest motorsport series. Audio

8:41 AM.A programme to increase the number of women on company boards was launched in Wellington last night, with the message that more women around the board table means more profit. Audio

8:39 AM.Italian police say they have caught the notorious chief of a Naples mafia clan, Michele Zagaria, who has been on the run for 16 years. Audio

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

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

8:25 AM.The New Zealand men's hockey team could make history tonight when it faces Spain in its Champions Trophy semi-final in Auckland. Audio

8:22 AM.Television New Zealand and Sky TV have banded together to create a new pay-television venture called Igloo. Audio

8:14 AM.Auckland barrister who deals in financial crime comments. Audio

8:09 AM.As we've been hearing, the Serious Fraud Office has laid charges alleging the largest fraud in New Zealand's history at South Canterbury Finance. Audio

7:55 AM.With just two days left of the world climate change negotiations in Durban, a question mark still hangs over whether the countries will be able to reach an agreement. Audio

7:52 AM.It's now less than a week until Labour MPs vote on a new leader, and the two candidates - David Cunliffe and David Shearer - have hit the road in their search for support. Audio

7:47 AM.Job losses are expected as health authorities in Canterbury prepare to revamp all community medical testing in the district. Audio

7:43 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:39 AM.Television New Zealand's move into the pay TV market will come at a cost to viewers of 25 dollars a month. Audio

7:35 AM.The commissioners at the Pike River disaster inquiry have questioned the actions of the former coal company's chair. Audio

7:26 AM.The wood processing industry says it's in the throes of a crisis with more sawmills going belly up because of unaffordable log prices, crippling exchange rates and further set-backs in the… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.The former Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev, has called for an election re-run claiming the Russian parliamentary poll at the weekend was marred by fraud. Audio

7:18 AM.The union for public service workers says it wants a more consistent approach taken to public buildings deemed to be earthquake prone. Audio

7:14 AM.Five people have been charged but names not yet released. Audio

7:09 AM.The Serious Fraud Office is preparing for the largest fraud trial in New Zealand's history after the laying of charges relating to the failed lender, South Canterbury Finance. Audio

6:48 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:37 AM.The Serious Fraud Office is preparing for the largest fraud trial in New Zealand's history after laying charges relating to the failed lender, South Canterbury Finance. Audio

6:27 AM.A Gisborne District Councillor says efforts by two Canadian oil exploration companies to consult with Maori about their drilling plans, is a complete contrast to the actions of the Brazilian company… Read more Audio

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

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

6:10 AM.A rash of closures of government buildings that pose an earthquake risk may just be the tip of the iceberg, as assessments of hundreds of government buildings are carried out around the country. Audio

6:00 AM.SFO charges South Canterbury Finance; Radio NZ business editor on the impact of SFO charges; Rash of government buildings closures could be tip of iceberg; Gorbachev calls for re-run after 'rigged… Read more Audio