Morning Report for Thursday 26 July 2012

8:57 AM.Is it the crack of doom for the famous and flamboyant loos of Kawakawa? Audio

8:53 AM.In the final of our athlete profiles in the lead up to the London Olympic games, we take a look at the hopes of Pacific athletes. Audio

8:48 AM.Descendants of Te Rauparaha, who composed the haka, Ka Mate, have decided to freeze their fight to protect parts of the traditional war dance, or challenge; Waikato-Tainui says its relationship with… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Skilled meatworkers in South Taranaki are being warned off a recruitment drive by an Australian firm making its first foray into New Zealand. Audio

8:40 AM.An investigation into solar hot water heaters has revealed they offer only lukewarm benefits for users. 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

8:27 AM.The Niue government is pinning its hopes on a hotel spruced up with New Zealand aid money to help keep the small island in the black. Audio

8:17 AM.The Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, says the prospect of an election in Zimbabwe is putting his power-sharing arrangement with President Robert Mugabe under strain. Audio

8:13 AM.In a very unusual occurrence, opposition parties succeeded in passing three members' bills through their first readings and sending them to select committee in Parliament last night. Audio

8:08 AM.Planning how to remove the bow of the container ship Rena that's stuck on the Astrolabe reef gets underway today when the American salvage company, Resolve meets the Rena's insurers today. Audio

7:57 AM.Inmates at the Hawke's Bay Regional Prison say learning Te Reo Maori and tikanga will help keep them out of jail when they are released. Audio

7:52 AM.The Government is considering returning Canterbury's regional council to only a limited form of democracy at next year's local body elections. Audio

7:48 AM.The deputy mayor of the Japanese city where 12 victims of the Canterbury Television Building collapse came from, has flown to Christchurch to attend the Royal Commission looking into the disaster. Audio

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

7:42 AM.Fadi Salem is a researcher, based in Dubai who is originally from Aleppo. Audio

7:35 AM.The Syrian army has intensified its counterattack on Aleppo, with opposition activists reporting Syria's biggest city has been pounded by artillery and helicopter gunships for a second day. Audio

7:29 AM.Gun shops in Colorado are reporting a surge in business since last week's mass shooting in a picture theatre in a Denver suburb. Audio

7:27 AM.The Tourism Industry Association is backing the idea of that 'mondayisation' of Waitangi and Anzac days when they fall on weekends. Audio

7:22 AM.The union representing miners says it is stunned yet another mining accident has happened. Audio

7:17 AM.Social workers are calling for more resources for government agencies to deal with what's expected to be a substantial increase in child abuse notifications, in the wake of a report into the deaths of… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.Planning the removal of the bow of the container ship Rena gets underway today when the American salvage company Resolve meets the vessel's insurers. Audio

7:08 AM.In the first event of the London Games New Zealand's women's football team has taken on Great Britain. Audio

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

6:35 AM.Efforts to remove the bow of the container ship Rena have begun. Audio

6:27 AM.Descendants of the tribal chief who composed the haka, Ka Mate, have decided to freeze their fight to protect parts of the traditional war dance, or challenge; Waikato-Tainui says its relationship… 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.Football Ferns proud to play in opening event;Locals welcome next stage of Rena removal;Calls for more resources to deal with child abuse;Miner's union says it's unbelievable accident… Read more Audio