Morning Report for Tuesday 20 March 2012

8:57 AM.A new species of frog has been discovered in the most unlikey of places. Audio

8:53 AM.With more than one thousand submissions, the Milford Dart Passage Tunnel public hearings have stirred emotions within the Fiordland and Southern Lakes communities. Audio

8:51 AM.New Zealand's first hospital based sealed laboratory for infectious organisms has been opened in Christchurch. Audio

8:46 AM.Ngati Kahungunu may ask Maori farmers not to send their livestock to the AFFCO meatworks in the northern Hawke's Bay town of Waiora; A Waikato-Tainui Kaumatua says despite the long and close links… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.People living in Wellington's outer suburbs are angry over plans for a major overhaul of the city's bus routes, saying it will mean much longer commutes. Audio

8:38 AM.New Zealanders are being told to consider how much they are willing to pay for clean water. Audio

8:34 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.New Zealand's free trade deal with China is proving to have more than a few fish hooks. Audio

8:22 AM.The jury considering the verdicts in the trial of four people accused of taking part in military-style camps in Te Urewera National Park has indicated its finding it difficult to agree on one of the… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.More rain is on the way for Northland where there was flooding yesterday. Audio

8:10 AM.Listening to that report is Michael Barnett the chairman of the business interest group known as the local government forum, and the Director of the Auckland University of Technology's Public Policy… Read more Audio

8:07 AM.There's been a chorus of criticism for a plan to limit the scope of local government. Audio

7:55 AM.The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand says the housing market in Christchurch is reaching a crisis point - with almost no short term rentals available. Audio

7:52 AM.Some Tongans in New Zealand are calling for the body of King George Tupou the Vth to lie in State in Auckland on its way home to Tonga. Audio

7:48 AM.The Children's Commissioner is putting together a team of experts in an effort to end child poverty. Audio

7:44 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

7:40 AM.Resentment and frustration is building amongst heritage advocates in Christchurch as more and more buildings succumb to the wrecker's ball. Audio

7:35 AM.French authorities have begun a terrorism investigation, after four people were shot dead outside a Jewish school in the southern city of Toulouse. Audio

7:29 AM.Northland faces further flooding this morning, with high tide hitting the region's east coast within the last few minutes. Audio

7:26 AM.The Trade Minister says he may confront his Chinese counterpart this week over the increasing use of penalty tariffs against New Zealand's dairy exports. Audio

7:23 AM.Heavy rain is expected to continuing pelting Northland today, following flooding in the region. Audio

7:12 AM.Listening to that is the Local Government Minister, Nick Smith, who joins us in the studio. Audio

7:07 AM.The government is proposing to cut the role of local councils in order to save money and limit rate increaes. Audio

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

6:35 AM.The Government is being warned not to pare back the activities of local councils too much, as it tries to rein-in spending and keep rates under control. Audio

6:27 AM.A Waikato-Tainui Kaumatua says despite the long and close links between the Kingitanga and the Tongan Royal family, not a lot is known about the new King; Ngai Te Rangi Iwi in the Bay of Plenty has… 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 Trade Minister says he may confront his Chinese counterpart on the increasing use of tariffs against New Zealand dairy exports. Audio

6:11 AM.A former mayor, and New Zealand First MP, Andrew Williams, says some aspects of local government do need to be reined in. Audio

6:00 AM.Local Government to be radically reformed, Nick Smith explains Local Government reforms, Heavy rain expected to continue pelting Northland, Trade Minister may confront China over dairy tariffs… Read more Audio