Morning Report for Wednesday 15 February 2012

8:58 AM.It's taken him almost two weeks, but Jimi Hunt is finally about to finish his great mission. Audio

8:54 AM.The Auckland University Students Association says international students aren't given enough information about the costs of living in New Zealand, leaving some in poverty. Audio

8:50 AM.New figures show serious absenteeism from school has fallen, but children in Northland and senior secondary school students still have the worst attendance. Audio

8:48 AM.Taranaki tribes waiting to make their Mount Taranaki claims - will have to be patient until four iwi in the region sign off their Treaty settlements with the Crown; A new member of Te Arataura or the… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Internet specialists say a planned Government move towards using more web technology should concentrate on making use of New Zealand service providers. Audio

8:42 AM.The number of houses sold in January rose 25 percent compared with the same month last year, while house prices remained steady. 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

8:27 AM.Italian prosecutors have lodged an appeal against the overturning of the murder conviction against American student, Amanda Knox, and her former boyfriend, Rafaele Sollecito. Audio

8:23 AM.It's being billed as a 'getting to know you' visit, as the vice president of China arrives in Washington. Audio

8:20 AM.The Green Party is rejecting the Parliamentary Speaker's claim that he can't approve funding for a note-taker to support the deaf MP, Mojo Mathers. Audio

8:15 AM.As the trial gets under way of four people accused of being involved in military-style camps in Te Urewera National Park, the issue of covert surveillance is about to reignite debate in Parliament. Audio

8:07 AM.The board representing Maori in Auckland says the city council has budgeted less than a third of the money needed for Maori development. Audio

7:57 AM.New Zealand will find out in the next two months whether it will be part of a two-and-a-half billion dollar global astronomy project. Audio

7:55 AM.A year after pro-democracy demonstrations in Bahrain, there's renewed violence in the capital Manama. Audio

7:53 AM.An Iraqi refugee, in jail for a string of rapes, has had his first parole bid knocked back after failing to prove any significant reduction in his risk. Audio

7:50 AM.Opposition parties have accused the Prime Minister of exaggerating the benefits to State-owned energy companies once they are partially privatised. Audio

7:45 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:40 AM.Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has accused Iran of being behind a series of blasts in Bangkok which struck a day after two bomb attacks targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia. Audio

7:35 AM.The Pike River royal commission has heard evidence the mine's manager Doug White did not know of serious failures with the gas monitoring system. Audio

7:27 AM.The Rescue Coordination Centre is continuing to hunt for a yachtsman missing off the Bay of Plenty coast, with current sea conditions reported to be favourable. Audio

7:20 AM.If you thought living in Auckland was expensive and getting more so - you'd be right. According to a just released international index Auckland is among the world's most expensive cities - ahead of… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.An argument has erupted between the Green Party and the Speaker of the House about who should pay for a note-taker for New Zealand's first profoundly deaf MP. Audio

7:10 AM.The four people accused of taking part in military-style camps in Te Urewera National Park say they are activists who are AGAINST war, not for it. Audio

7:08 AM.The board representing Maori in Auckland is challenging what is calls inadequate ratepayer funding for Maori. Audio

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

6:40 AM.The Government is hoping it can head off a potential row with the United States over its plans to extend a crackdown on tax dodgers to New Zealand. Audio

6:35 AM.Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory Board says the amount of ratepayer funding allocated for Maori in the city is inadequate. Audio

6:27 AM.A new member of Te Arataura, or the Waikato-Tainui, executive says the iwi and hapu want accountability from the new committee; Taranaki tribes waiting to make their Mount Taranaki claims - will have… 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.The Dunedin South MP, Clare Curran, has accused Kiwirail of making up figures to suit itself after an internal document revealed the company estimated it would cost nearly 50 percent more to build… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.Maori board ponders moves over Auckland council budget;Raids accused say they are anti war, and not part of a criminal group;Mojo Mathers speaks out about funding for note takers;Auckland and… Read more Audio