Morning Report for Thursday 31 January 2013

8:56 AM.If you have a problem with your Body Mass Index, a new way of calculating BMI is being proposed. Audio

8:56 AM.One of the worlds oldest and rarest trees has been planted in Christchurch to mark the 150th anniversary of the city's Botanic Garden. Audio

8:50 AM.The days of children living in fear of the dentists drill could be coming to an end. Audio

8:47 AM.Lawyers for water claimants will pick over the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi when their case goes to the Supreme Court today; Meanwhile, a deputy chair at the Maori Council, Rahui Katene, says… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Manukau residents and business people keen to rid their local streets of sex workers will have to wait six months to find out if new legislation currently before a select committee will become law. Audio

8:41 AM.As the hot weather continues, farmers up and down the country are on high alert, with a lack of rain prompting warnings that some regions are close to being classified as drought zones. Audio

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

8:31 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:28 AM.Health officials are urging people over the age of 65 to look for ways to become more physically active, for the sake of their own health. Audio

8:24 AM.In London, an investigation has been launched into the death of New Zealander Jacob Marx, who was killed when a nine metre bookmaker's sign fell on him in the suburb of Camden. Audio

8:20 AM.In Queensland, the floodwaters are slowly dropping, but with so much water coming down the Burnett River it's expected to be some time before the residents of Bundaberg can return home. Audio

8:16 AM.It's normally a tightly guarded secret leading to months of speculation, but not any more. Audio

8:12 AM.The Education Minister, Hekia Parata's joke that a glitch with Education Ministry's pay is 'Karma' for errors with the Novopay system, is raising the ire of the Public Service Association. Audio

8:08 AM.The Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says a highly critical Auditor General's report on cost cuts at the Defence force is 'nothing new' and the NZDF has largely moved on. Audio

7:57 AM.The inventor of the World Wide Web has warned New Zealanders that governments and companies should not be trusted with control of the internet. Audio

7:53 AM.The prosecution has called its final witnesses in the criminal hearing into the Doha mall fire that killed New Zealand triplets. Audio

7:49 AM.Crucial decisions on who will shape the development of Auckland are looming, as signs of tension emerge between Auckland Council and the Government. Audio

7:46 AM.The Copyright Tribunal has made its first ruling under the three-strikes copyright-infringement law and fined a New Zealander more than 600 dollars for sharing two songs online. Audio

7:43 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:40 AM.A second New Zealand dairy company has found traces of the chemical DCD in its milk products. Audio

7:27 AM.The Justice Minister is refusing to be drawn on comments made by the long- time supporter of David Bain, Joe Karam, who has accused her of being in denial and keeping a report saying Mr Bain should… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.Joining us is our political editor, Brent Edwards. Audio

7:22 AM.This afternoon Parliament will select a new Speaker of the House as Lockwood Smith bows out of politics to take up a new role as New Zealand's High Commissioner in London. Audio

7:19 AM.Currency strategists say the biggest currency intervention by the Reserve Bank in nearly two years is unlikely to have been to try to bring down the high-flying New Zealand dollar. Audio

7:12 AM.Listening to that is Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman who says the criticism is old news and the problems have been fixed. Audio

7:09 AM.Former defence force personnel and military experts say it may take years to repair the damage done by the the most recent cost-cutting drive by the Defence Force. Audio

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

6:39 AM.A new legal team will take on the fight for Maori water rights - when the case goes before the Supreme Court today. Audio

6:38 AM.Defence force cost cutting measures have been roundly condemned by the Auditor General who has found it compromised the force's ability to do its job and damaged soldier morale. Audio

6:28 AM.Lawyers for water claimants will pick over the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi when their case goes to the Supreme Court today; New Zealanders are being asked by a pakeha man in Northland to… Read more Audio

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

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

6:11 AM.Currency experts say the sale of a large amount of currency by the Reserve Bank is unlikely to have been a tactic to bring down the high-flying New Zealand dollar but it could be a shrewd money making… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.We put the Auditor General's criticisms of Defence cost cutting to the Minister. We hear from Joe Karam about the judicial review filed against the Justice Minister and is there evidence the Reserve… Read more Audio