Morning Report for Monday 23 April 2012

8:55 AM.The latest news from the Lucky Country. Audio

8:50 AM.A New Zealand World War II military battalion officially disbanded at the weekend, seven decades after it was formed, but its remaining members hope it won't be forgotten. Audio

8:48 AM.New Zealand Maori hockey will vie to be recognised as a separate national team when New Zealand and international hockey leaders meet next weekend; A Nga Puhi woman living in Sydney says the Parramata… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The police aren't ruling out trying again to have evidential blood testing scrapped. Audio

8:38 AM.Our reporter Andrew McRae was trackside for yesterday's final 200-kilometre race around the city circuit. 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

8:25 AM.After an abysmal result at the last election where it garnered just 1 percent of the party vote, the Act Party is on a mission to win back voters and reach the 5 percent threshold in the 2014… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.This morning, Moerewa School in Northland will defy the Government and welcome back 27 senior students for term two. Audio

8:18 AM.The spire of Christ Church Cathedral once stood 20 storeys high but was reduced to less than half that by last year's earthquake. Its temporary replacement's construction began yesterday with the… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.The Minister for Economic Development, Steven Joyce, believes a lot of the public's concern is being fueled by opposition parties making stuff up. He joins the programme. Audio

8:08 AM.The Reserve Bank governor expressed concerns about the high level of the New Zealand dollar as long as three years ago. Since then the Kiwi has climbed 20 per cent. Audio

8:03 AM.The death of the highly respected lawyer, John Haigh, QC is being mourned by his contemporaries as a great loss to the profession. Audio

7:55 AM.A law change is the next step in the campaign to merge Nelson City and the Tasman district after a referendum on amlagamation failed at the weekend. The MP for Nelson, Nick Smith joins the programme. Audio

7:51 AM.Results from the first round of presidential elections indicate bad news for the incumbent Nikolas Sarkozy. Audio

7:48 AM.The Act Party is aiming to win five percent of the party vote at the next election despite its dismal result last year when its share of the vote was just one percent. Audio

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

7:39 AM.Des Patterson joins the programme and speaks to Geoff Robinson about his sister's ordeal. Audio

7:36 AM.Staff at Thames Hospital say an elderly woman who spent an incredible 72 hours alone on a cliff face without food or water is doing remarkably well. Audio

7:29 AM.A procedural error in the United States means the owner of the filesharing website Megaupload, Kim Dotcom, may never be tried there. Audio

7:23 AM.Auckland's mayor, Len Brown, is backing the government's decision to negotiate an Auckland convention centre deal with Sky City - for now. Audio

7:20 AM.Our correspondent in Zimbabwe, Columbus Mavhunga, reports New Zealand photojournalist Robin Hammond has been freed from prison in the southern African country. Audio

7:08 AM.The mother of the New Zealand born teenager Sharidyn Svebakk-Bohn, who was murdered in Anders Breivik's killing spree in Norway last July, speaks of her anguish. Audio

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

6:40 AM.New Zealand could have a fight on its hands from several powerful American business groups if it goes ahead with plans to ban branding on cigarette packets. Audio

6:38 AM.The opposition is continuing to question the Government's approach to its potential deal with Sky City Casino to build a convention centre in return for extra gaming machines. Audio

6:28 AM.A Nga Puhi woman living in Sydney says the Parramata City Council is being intransigent over a piece of land it wants to sell, but rightfully belongs to Maori; New Zealand Maori hockey will vie to be… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:19 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:17 AM.The Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's government is under pressure after Parliament's speaker stepped aside yesterday. Audio

6:14 AM.A meeting is taking place this morning between Whangarei's mayor, the Transport Agency and protesters against the felling of century old native trees which happened over the weekend. Audio

6:00 AM.Mother of NZ born victim of Norway massacre tells of anguish; NZ born photo-journalist freed in Zimbabwe; Auckland Mayor comfortabel with Govt. involvement with SkyCity convention centre plan, so far… Read more Audio