Morning Report for Tuesday 21 August 2012

8:54 AM.New research from the United States has shown that Monday doesn't deserve its reputation as the worst day of the week. Audio

8:50 AM.Disabled people in Christchurch say they hope the new city centre will take account of their needs. Audio

8:47 AM.The Auckland Council has been told to be more transparent with Maori about its plans to sell off surplus properties; Steam vented communal hangi pits in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Village are being… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.One of the soldiers killed on Sunday was Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker. Women were fully integrated into the New Zealand Armed Forces in 1977 and Lance Corporal Baker is the first New Zealand female… Read more Audio

8:36 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:27 AM.That's the new single from the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, released after the sentencing of three of its members for hooliganism. Audio

8:22 AM.A social work specialist from Canterbury University says the attention being given to Stewart Murray Wilson is fuelling a dangerous misconception about sex offenders. Audio

8:22 AM.School principals say the Education Review Office's decision to drop decile ratings from their reports is a step in the right direction. Audio

8:14 AM.Attention now turns to the ongoing role of the New Zealand forces, until they do withdraw, and a former Afghanistan politician says it would be a big mistake for the New Zealand defend force to extend… Read more Audio

8:08 AM.The Government has reaffirmed its support for the ongoing military mission in Afghanistan, and is adamant that the deployment will run its course, despite the deaths of five soldiers in just two… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.Selling stakes in state-owned assets is being likened to killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Audio

7:52 AM.Just-released documents show Kiwirail considered importing and assembling rail wagons in New Zealand when it was looking at its options for new rolling stock. Audio

7:48 AM.The Labour Party's been told it needs to mend fences with its loyal, older Pacific voters over the same-sex marriage bill. Audio

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

7:40 AM.Symptoms of the vine disease, PSA, have appeared in some PSA-tolerant green Hayward and G3 gold varieties in the Bay of Plenty. Audio

7:36 AM.The Dunedin City Council says the city could create a whole new industry building modular houses for Christchurch. Audio

7:27 AM.A multi-million dollar question mark hangs over Auckland's new public transport ticketing system this morning. Audio

7:25 AM.A search in the seas off New Plymouth's Paritutu Rock is once again underway for the bodies of the two people still missing after they fell into the sea while climbing the rock almost two weeks ago. Audio

7:21 AM.The Wanganui District Council will this morning launch legal action to stop the sex predator Stewart Murray Wilson moving to their city. Audio

7:13 AM.We are joined by the Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman. Audio

7:08 AM.Special forces troops from other coalition countries are on stand-by if extra support is needed in Bamyan, and the Prime Minister says there's no point sending the New Zealand SAS back to Afghanistan… Read more Audio

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

6:41 AM.The Snapper bus ticket system could be scrapped in Auckland, after the region's transport agency removed it from the new HOP public transport ticketing project. Audio

6:36 AM.The Prime Minister says New Zealand will probably withdraw from Afghanistan as early as April next year. Audio

6:27 AM.The Auckland Council has been told to be more transparent with Maori about its plans to sell off surplus properties; Steam vented communal hangi pits in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Village are being… Read more Audio

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

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

6:09 AM.The Prime Minister has ruled out sending the SAS back to Afghanistan in a combat role, saying there are special forces troops from other coalition countries on stand-by if extra support is needed in… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.Foreign SAS on stand-by if needed in Bamyan, Defence Minister says April exit from Afghanistan likely, Wanganui council begins legal action against Wilson today, Search resumes for two climbers… Read more Audio