Morning Report for Monday 21 May 2012

8:56 AM.Time for a chat with our Brisbane correspondent Donna Field. Audio

8:53 AM.It's not the fastest of birds but a kiwi appears to have broken a Guinness world speed record. Audio

8:50 AM.The Nelson MP, Nick Smith, says the Race Relations Commissioner is going over the top by seeking a law change to make Maori seats on councils a right rather than leaving it to the public to decide… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The new Local Government Minister has picked up where his predecessor, Nick Smith left off, in calling for councils to consider selling assets as a way to keep rates rises at around the same level as… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.It wasn't a game of rugby, but a line-out style defensive move helped the Northern Mystics netball team to a 49-45 win in Melbourne yesterday - and raised eyebrows along the way. Audio

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

8:28 AM.Former Morning Report producer Willy Flockton was in Lockerbie today shortly before we came on air. Audio

8:24 AM.The Libyan man convicted of the bombing of a Pan Am jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 has died. Audio

8:20 AM.The president of the Act party has labelled as offensive comments made about Maori by one of the party's major donors. Audio

8:16 AM.The Auckland mayor, Len Brown, wants to push ahead with a city rail loop, despite some councillors calling for it to be put on hold until central government funding is guaranteed. Audio

8:13 AM.Two big aftershocks rocked Christchurch at the weekend, five months after the last big aftershock just before Christmas. Audio

8:11 AM.The Commodore of the Mangere Boating Club, Bryan Anderson, says the area where the boat got into trouble is dangerous for those without training. Audio

8:09 AM.The police are expected to resume their search shortly for a father and his seven-year-old son who remain missing in Manukau Harbour. Audio

7:56 AM.It's possibly New Zealand's best known hospital even if it does specialise more in broken hearts than broken limbs. Audio

7:54 AM.The former Scottish rugby international, John Beattie, says he's so concerned about head injuries in the game that he will donate his brain to science when he dies. Audio

7:51 AM.A culturally targeted way of preventing family violence in Pacific communities is being hailed as a break-through in tackling the growing problem. Audio

7:47 AM.Opposition parties say nothing in this Thursday's Budget that will get the economy growing faster. Audio

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

7:40 AM.The last of the residents still living in a condemned Housing New Zealand building on The Terrace in Wellington are expected to pack up and leave today. Audio

7:36 AM.The Auckland Mayor Len Brown is insisting a multi billion dollar city rail loop remain a priority even though the Government has given no guarantee it will back it. Audio

7:25 AM.More than three years after the convicted murderer Antonie Dixon was found dead in his prison cell, his family is criticising the coroner for delays in investigating the case. Audio

7:21 AM.Senior Labour MP Shane Jones appears set to survive his connection to a Chinese businessman charged with passport fraud. Audio

7:15 AM.At least six people have been killed after a magnitude six earthquake struck northern Italy. Audio

7:12 AM.The police in Whanganui say they are following definite leads as they continue to investigate the death of the veteran journalist, Derek Round. Audio

7:09 AM.The search is about to resume for a father and his seven year old son who remain missing in Manukau Harbour. Audio

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

6:41 AM.The sister of the convicted murderer, Antonie Dixon, says it's disgusting that more than three years have passed without a coroner's inquest being held into her brother's death. Audio

6:28 AM.The search will resume this morning for a father and son who remain missing in Manukau Harbour after their boat capsized - but the police aren't hopeful of finding them alive. Audio

6:27 AM.The Nelson MP, Nick Smith, says the Race Relations Commissioner is going over the top by seeking a law change to make Maori seats on councils a right rather than leaving it to the public to decide; An… Read more Audio

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

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

6:00 AM.The search is due to resume this morning for a father and child missing after their dinghy capsized in the Manukau Harbour. Police in Whanganui say they now know some of the movements of the person or… Read more Audio