Morning Report for Friday 9 March 2012

8:55 AM.Former Premier of New South Wales Bob Carr is Labor's new Foreign Minister and about to visit New Zealand; and Queensland's election may be delayed. Audio

8:52 AM.The party is already underway as Auckland's waterfront prepares to welcome the fleet in sailing's premier round the world race this weekend. The Volvo Ocean Race includes New Zealand's first entry for… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Millions of tonnes of particles produced by a solar eruption have reached the Earth overnight. The solar flare is the largest in five years, and was predicted to cause auroras over the South Island… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The Ngupuhi leader Sonny Tau, says the Ministry of Economic Development needs to adequately consult Maori before seeking bids from companies wanting to explore for minerals in Northland; The Green… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.As CCTV surveillance becomes increasingly popular in New Zealand some are warning the practice is moving far too quickly without any debate in the community. Audio

8:41 AM.The British Prime Minister David Cameron says he authorised a failed rescue bid for a Briton and Italian held hostage in Nigeria. The two hostages, Briton Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.A former cricket anti-corruption official has told a London court he thinks the New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns, has been involved in match fixing. Audio

8:36 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

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

8:21 AM.Syria's deputy oil minister has announced his resignation, saying he is joining the anti-government revolt. Abdo Hussameddin is the highest ranking civilian to abandon President Bashar al-Assad since… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.The Labour Party says a higher than normal attrition rate in the defence force shows government-imposed cutbacks have been too deep, and the change process poorly run. The National Party's Jonathan… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.A work about power, repression and war by one of the UK's most in-demand choreographers, caps off the New Zealand International Arts Festival's challenging dance programme. Audio

7:50 AM.The wealthiest man in New Zealand, Graeme Hart, who began his career driving tow trucks, is one of 1226 billionaires who've made the cut as the world's richest people. Audio

7:48 AM.Lyttelton port workers have decided a levy on their wages is the best way to support their colleagues in Auckland now industrial action has been ruled out. Audio

7:45 AM.Strong winds have again stopped a mass hot air balloon flight over Wairarapa to commemorate the deaths of eleven people in a ballooning crash two months ago. Audio

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

7:38 AM.Peter Dunne says public pressure won't force him into reneging on his deal to support partial asset sales. Audio

7:29 AM.More than a hundred thousand people are expected to attend this weekend's Auckland's Pasifika Festival which turns 20 this year. Audio

7:25 AM.Talks to try to save the Otago Rugby Union appear to be going down to the wire. The union last week extended the deadline to agree a rescue package with the New Zealand Rugby Union but warned the… Read more Audio

7:19 AM.The mayor of Tauranga is calling for a full and proper independent inquiry into the grounding of the Rena last year following the release of a preliminary report. Audio

7:14 AM.The Defence Force says it's unlikely to force any more staff into civilian roles because the process has been too damaging. In the past year 485 jobs jobs were cut, 295 of which were military… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Just a month after the accused internet pirate Kim Dotcom was granted residency in New Zealand, he was convicted of share trading offences in Hong Kong. Papers about Mr Dotcom's application for… Read more Audio

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

6:39 AM.Dunedin ratepayers says companies owned by Dunedin City Council should be sold after flat earnings in their latest six monthly report. The companies - the airport, a contracting business, a forestry… Read more Audio

6:36 AM.The Defence Force says it is spending tens of thousands of dollars on overseas recruitment to fill a growing skill shortage left by people leaving the armed services. Audio

6:27 AM.The Green Party Co -Leader, Metiria Turei, says Maori should have the right to be decision makers over rivers which flow through their rohe; The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau, says the Ministry of Economic… Read more Audio

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

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

6:14 AM.The Government says extended hours in the house are allowing it to deal quickly with historic Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims, including one that stemmed from the 1977 Bastion Point occupation. Audio

6:12 AM.Recovery workers made redundant at Pike River Mine fear the remains of the 29 men still underground may never be recovered. Nine workers were laid off yesterday, leaving just 10 staff on the recovery… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.The head of the Port of Tauranga says the preliminary report into the grounding of the Rena proves there should be a designated route for ships coming into ports. Audio

6:00 AM.Defence force change process poorly run, says Labour; Details of Kim Dotcom's resident application revealed; Mayor of Tauranga calls for full inquiry into Rena; High-ranking official abandons Syrian… Read more Audio