Morning Report for Wednesday 19 September 2012

8:55 AM.Ohakune has its Big Carrot, Paeroa the big L&P bottle, and now a South Otago town has plans for a Big Canoe. Audio

8:50 AM.A Ngati Maniapoto descendant says the government's first consultation hui on water rights was worthwhile going to; A south Auckland marae has won back a Government welfare contract - just months after… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.Fresh anti-Japan protests have erupted in at least 100 cities in China, forcing many Japanese businesses to close their Chinese operations. Audio

8:43 AM.A report to be published tonight will reveal that the Palmerston North City Council is continuing to significantly pollute the Manawatu River - but not in the way previously thought. Audio

8:39 AM.Further to our earlier story about unaffordable housing and government moves to reduce the cost of building a home in Auckland. Audio

8:36 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.Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have won their court battle to prevent further publication in France of photos showing the Duchess sunbathing topless. Audio

8:24 AM.Civil rights advocates and lawyers say a new law to keep the worst violent and sexual offenders locked up indefinitely would breach international human rights legislation. Audio

8:19 AM.The Government may pay only the most needy families who care for their disabled adult children at home. Audio

8:14 AM.Only 15 people - four of them too young to vote - showed up to a hui in Hamilton last night to discuss Maori water rights in light of the government's proposed sale of assets. Audio

8:09 AM.The Labour Party says John Key's political capital is sinking along with that of the ACT Party leader, John Banks. Audio

7:57 AM.Illness and injury could derail the New Zealand cricketers Twenty20 World Cup ambitions, with several players fighting to become fit in time for their first match. Audio

7:54 AM.Representatives of elderly New Zealanders say basic needs aren't being met in some rest homes, despite improvements to the way the sector is monitored. Audio

7:50 AM.The Government intends changing the Resource Management Act to make more residential land available in an effort to curb rising house prices. Audio

7:47 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:38 AM.Mitt Romney is in damage control after a video clip of another part of his speech to wealthy backers has surfaced. Audio

7:29 AM.The Government says it may pay only the most needy families who care for their disabled adult children at home if it's to afford the multi-million dollar bill. Audio

7:25 AM.There were hundreds of fans waiting to greet her. Audio

7:18 AM.Listening to that was the Minister of Finance, Bill English. Audio

7:13 AM.The Government says it's not worried by the very small turnout at its first water consultation hui held in Hamilton last night. Audio

7:10 AM.The Act President says the MP and party leader John Banks would get the full backing of the board if he chooses to run again in the 2014 election. Audio

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

6:41 AM.A new secretly recorded video clip has surfaced of comments by Republican candidate Mitt Romney, saying the Palestinians are committed to Israel's destruction. Audio

6:28 AM.A Ngati Maniapoto descendant says the government's first consultation hui on water rights was worthwhile going to; A south Auckland marae has won back a Government welfare contract - just months after… Read more Audio

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

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

6:15 AM.A bill extending commissioner governance of the Canterbury Regional Council until 2016 has passed its first reading in Parliament. Audio

6:13 AM.Val Adams is back in the country to attend her belated gold medal ceremony at The Cloud on Auckland's wharves tonight. Audio

6:11 AM.Only 15 people showed up to the government's first water consultation hui held in Hamilton last night. Audio

6:09 AM.The Act President says the MP and party leader John Banks would get the full backing of the board if he chooses to run again in the 2014 election. Audio

6:00 AM.Despite the donations scandal, the board of ACT will back John Banks if he runs at the next election. Bill English talks to just fifteen people at the first water hui, but says he's not worried by the… Read more Audio