Morning Report for Wednesday 2 May 2012

8:57 AM.The 22-year-old artist has just won the top prize for her song at this year's International Songwriting Competition. Audio

8:54 AM.Londoners go to the polls tomorrow in a bitterly fought Mayoral election. Audio

8:51 AM.The Education Review Office says only a quarter of primary schools are teaching science effectively. Audio

8:48 AM.The Government has set up a reference group to advise Ministers on how to increase the number of high quality Te Reo Maori speaking teachers; Meanwhile the Whangarei based Ngati Hine Health Trust… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.The Green Party says the days of five dollar per litre petrol could be here in a decade. Audio

8:39 AM.The children of a Christchurch man accused of murdering his niece are expected to be questioned by the Crown at the Christchurch High Court today. 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

8:26 AM.The US President Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, in a surprise visit that coincides with the anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Audio

8:20 AM.In a surprise move, Australia's central bank has cut its official cash rate by half a percentage point. Audio

8:18 AM.New Zealanders want the Privacy Commission to be able to stop organisations from mis-handling personal information. Audio

8:15 AM.The Ministry of Justice is considering replacing up to half the country's community law centres with a phone or internet service. Audio

8:10 AM.A pathologist has told jurors in the Emily Longley murder trial it is possible she was strangled. Audio

7:57 AM.Debris from the cargo ship Rena is starting to wash up on Great Barrier Island. Audio

7:54 AM.The government is going to increase the funding for science and engineering courses at universities in this month's budget. Audio

7:47 AM.A rift in management styles appears to be behind John Wright's departure as New Zealand cricket coach, with no immediate indication of who might step up to replace him. Audio

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

7:40 AM.A highly scathing report into the phone-hacking scandal that closed down the News of the World newspaper has been released by a British parliamentary committe. Audio

7:36 AM.Opposition parties are accusing the Government of using the changes to the liquor laws to divert public attention away from the controversies over ACC, John Banks and Sky City. Audio

7:27 AM.The government has signalled it will cut student allowances and make students repay their loans faster, though it has ruled out charging interest on student loans. Audio

7:22 AM.Customs officials have caught another two suspected card skimmers who were trying to come into New Zealand. Audio

7:17 AM.Police say they remain hopeful two Te Anau fishermen managed to get on to a dinghy after their crayfishing boat sank near Secretary Island in Doubtful Sound. Audio

7:14 AM.John Banks' office declined our interview request, saying he was not doing any more interviews before the police investigation is completed, unless something new comes up. Audio

7:09 AM.John Banks is now talking in more detail about the claims he faces over anonymous donations, and continues to insist he did not know two 25-thousand-dollar donations came from Kim Dotcom. Audio

6:46 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:37 AM.The Act Party leader, John Banks, is now talking in more detail about accusations relating to his 2010 mayoral campaign donations, saying his initial refusal to comment was in response to legal… Read more Audio

6:27 AM.The Government has set up a reference group to advise Ministers on how to increase the number of high quality Te Reo Maori speaking teachers; Meanwhile the Whangarei based Ngati Hine Health Trust… 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 contentious issue of collecting and storing personal data in a digital age has been at the centre of a major conference in Wellington this week. Audio

6:00 AM.Banks insists he didn't know donations came from Dotcom; Political editor assess impact donation controversy; Search to continue for crayfish fishermen; Suspected card skimmers stopped at Auckland… Read more Audio