Morning Report for Friday 3 February 2012

8:55 AM.A chat with our Canberra correspondent about rumours of a new leadership challenge for the Australian PM. Audio

8:52 AM.Plans to build a new theatre on Auckland's waterfront could be in jeopardy if nearly twenty million dollars of funding can't be secured by mid-year. Audio

8:48 AM.The government has been told it needs to increase the rate of Treaty settlement legislation going through Parliament; The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says a key issue for the government to… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The Finance Minister, Bill English, says he won't accept advice from the Treasury to look at raising the entitlement age for superannuation. Audio

8:39 AM.The Wellington leg of the IRB Sevens World Series kicks off in the capital this afternoon with hosts New Zealand keen to defend their title and win the competition for the sixth time. 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

8:25 AM.After a six-month battle with the Christchurch City Council, the writer Joe Bennett is the first Lyttelton resident to have the red sticker removed from his home. Audio

8:18 AM.The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, may have a fight on her hands, as rumors of a leadership challenge spread. Audio

8:14 AM.After three relatively quiet Waitangi Day celebrations, a more tempestuous affair is predicted this year. Audio

8:09 AM.Efforts to find any remaining survivors from a sunken ferry off the coast of Papua New Guinea had to be put on hold overnight because of continuing rough weather in the area. Audio

7:57 AM.Angelo Dundee, the trainer who helped groom Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard into world champions and became one of boxing's most recognisable figures, died yesterday at the age of 90. Audio

7:53 AM.Despite the growing anger directed at the Christchurch City Council and the thousands of protesters who this week gathered to call for it to be dumped mid year - there are still people fighting to… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.School groups fear a new round of school closures after both the Treasury and the Ministry of Education recommended the government close schools to save money. Audio

7:47 AM.It's been a tough week for the bloodstock industry, with sales at the Karaka auctions down almost 20 percent on last year. Audio

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

7:41 AM.The Ministry of Economic Development is predicting New Zealand could produce more petroleum than it consumes within 20 years, if new oil fields are developed. Audio

7:36 AM.The Insurance industry is cautioning the Earthquake Commission against making its insurance cover too expensive. Audio

7:26 AM.Egypt's capital, Cairo, is again the scene of major protests and violence sparked by the death of 74 people at a football match in Port Said. Audio

7:21 AM.The Navy has strongly rejected speculation in the Norwegian media that HMNZS Wellington ordered the yacht Berserk to leave safe anchorage in Antarctica last year. Audio

7:17 AM.Asset sales - impending job losses at Te Puni Kokiri - and grinding poverty in the north are set to fuel debate and protest at Waitangi this weekend. Audio

7:16 AM.An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.9 struck in the Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu early this morning. A 5.7 earthquake struck NZ off the coast of New Plymouth at 7am and was widely felt. Audio

7:13 AM.Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Safety Authority in PNG, Captain Nurur Rahman. Audio

7:09 AM.More than 100 people are still missing after a passenger ferry sank off the coast of Papua New Guinea yesterday morning. Audio

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

6:44 AM.Educators are backing a call from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs for more government funding of bilingual education to lift the performance of Pacific students. Audio

6:38 AM.The Prime Minister John Key says he will explain the government's thinking about changes to the SOE Act when he goes onto the Waitangi marae on Sunday. Audio

6:27 AM.The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says a key issue for the government to consider in the next three years, is improving the capability of Maori interests in the primary sector; The government… 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 Royal New Zealand Navy is denying Norwegian media reports HMNZS Wellington ordered the yacht Berserk to leave safe anchorage in Antarctica last year. Audio

6:11 AM.A large Auckland-based furniture maker has been placed in receivership, putting 180 jobs at risk. Audio

6:00 AM.More than a hundred still missing in PNG ferry sinking; Latest on Papua New Guinea rescue effort; Strong quake shakes Vanuatu but no damage reported; Te Puni Kokiri, poverty on agenda at Waitangi Day… Read more Audio