Morning Report for Friday 17 February 2012

8:55 AM.Time for a chat with our Brisbane correspondent Donna Field. Audio

8:53 AM.Bushy-bearded weatherman Bob McDavitt has become almost as familiar as the weather itself. Audio

8:49 AM.A group of scientists studying the young animals' behaviour have found that goats can develop their own accents, disproving claims that their voices are entirely genetic. Audio

8:46 AM.The Minister of Maori Affairs says he is looking at ways to start an investment service to help kick start fledgling Maori businesses who don't have the capital to set themselves up. An extensive… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.In Britain, rising anger over bonuses paid to bankers has caused some executives to reject theirs this year. Audio

8:40 AM.New Zealand begins its cricket series against South Africa with a Twenty20 match at Wellington's Westpac Stadium tonight. Audio

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

8:31 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:26 AM.Two judges joined those expressing concerns at a parliamentary select committee hearing yesterday about planned changes to the law governing legal aid. Audio

8:22 AM.Syrian people in New Zealand and their supporters are staging a demonstration tomorrow in Auckland's Aotea Square. Audio

8:18 AM.As the Labour department struggles to find a new permanent head for its mining safety unit, an expert in mine safety says the unit's inspectors need to have more bite. Audio

8:13 AM.Opposition parties are again criticising the Government over its partial asset sales programme, after the Finance Minister admitted to guessing how much the sales might earn. Audio

8:09 AM.The Wellington City Council says more than 400 older brick buildings need to be earthquake strengthened at a potential cost of half a billion dollars. Audio

7:53 AM.Government figures show nearly five hundred jobs have been axed from the Defence Forces in the past year, with more than half of them held by uniformed personnel. Audio

7:50 AM.The Chief Ombudsman says Corrections Department policy is putting transgender prisoners at risk of sexual assault. Audio

7:47 AM.The United States wants Iranian banks expelled from a global network used to transfer money, in a bid to deprive Iran of funds needed to develop nuclear weapons. Audio

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

7:39 AM.The Labour Department says it is struggling to find a permanent head for its unit that monitors mine safety. Audio

7:34 AM.The Pike River Royal Commission's crucial third phase finishes today. Audio

7:26 AM.The United Nations General Assembly is this morning voting on a resolution condemning the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Audio

7:23 AM.Travel agents say it'll be more expensive for New Zealanders to travel to the United States, once Air New Zealand becomes the only airline to offer direct flights to the country from May. Audio

7:16 AM.The Government faces renewed criticism about its partial asset sales programme after the Finance Minister admitted it was just guessing how much it would earn from the sales. Audio

7:13 AM.The Wellington mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, says there are some immediate next steps for the council. Audio

7:09 AM.Wellington City Council says if a major quake hits the capital, the cost on the economy could be nearly 40 billion dollars -- almost twice that of the Christchurch quake. Audio

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

6:40 AM.The Labour Party says the Government's admission that it is just guessing how much it will get from partial asset sales is laughable. Audio

6:38 AM.A new report says a major earthquake in Wellington would leave a bill of nearly 40 billion dollars, almost twice as much as that of the Canterbury quakes. Audio

6:27 AM.An extensive report out this morning tells how whanau are able to be strong and resilient in the face of financial hardship and difficult circumstances. The Minister of Maori Affairs says he is… Read more Audio

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

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

6:11 AM.The Labour Department can't find a permanent head for its unit that regulates mine safety. Audio

6:00 AM.A new report says the financial cost of a major earthquake in Wellington would be much bigger than the Canterbury quakes. Opposition parties attack the asset sales plan after Bill English's "it's just… Read more Audio