Morning Report for Tuesday 5 March 2013

8:56 AM.As the College of Cardinals begins meeting in Rome to start the process of electing a new Pope, bets are already being placed on who will emerge from the white smoke as the new leader of the Catholic… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.A Royal Society of New Zealand paper has today released a paper calling for a national language policy to give New Zealand a more unified approach to languages - how they're spoken, used, and… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Wellington businesses are being encouraged to work with their counterparts in Christchurch to help with post-earthquake rebuild projects. Audio

8:47 AM.A United Nations report has urged the government to ensure that the partial privatisation of energy companies doesn't take away Maori rights to freshwater; Meanwhile, the Maori Council says Treaty… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Prime Minister says introducing a written constitution to New Zealand would be like putting the country in a straitjacket. Audio

8:38 AM.Skydiving operators are preparing to install restraints on the aircraft they use in anticipation of a rule change making them mandatory. 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

8:23 AM.The adventure company running a tree climbing operation in which a man died over the weekend says it's been devastated by the accident. Audio

8:18 AM.Over the past few weeks 7 thousand census workers have visited 1.8 million homes and handed out 6.4 million census forms. Audio

8:13 AM.The advice investors are always given is do your research. Is the information going to be available for the average New Zealand investor, on Mighty River Power. Audio

8:09 AM.The government says it's relying on the New Zealand public to invest in Mighty River Power so it can keep its promise of 85 to 90 per cent New Zealand ownership. Audio

7:56 AM.Catholic cardinals from around the world have begun meeting in the Vatican ahead of the secret vote or conclave, to elect the new Pope, which is expected to begin some time next week. Audio

7:52 AM.Washington has moved into austerity mode with the launch of government-wide spending cuts. Audio

7:48 AM.The Prime Minister will be lobbying the leaders of the four Latin American countries he is visiting over the next 10 days to support New Zealand's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security… Read more Audio

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

7:41 AM.Opponents of the controversial Kapiti Coast expressway are shocked that it's been given the go ahead and are vowing to fight it to the bitter end. Audio

7:38 AM.School staff, are protesting outside the offices of government MPs this morning asking for more action over the Novopay debacle. Audio

7:30 AM.Scientists are describing it as a medical breakthrough - a child seemingly cured of HIV. The two-and-a-half year old baby girl from Mississippi was born with the virus but after treatment, it's now… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.An insurance company is denying its insistence a red-zoned Christchurch house can be repaired and doesn't need to be rebuilt, is motivated by a wish to save money. Audio

7:21 AM.Today is census day; the first nationwide stocktake in seven years after the census was called off in 2011 because of the February earthquake in Christchurch. Audio

7:17 AM.The father of one of three air force officers killed in an Anzac Day helicopter crash nearly three years ago says he is amazed there hasn't been a wider inquiry into health and safety procedures in… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.More details will be given today on the loyalty bonus the government plans to offer to encourage New Zealanders to hang on to their Mighty River shares. Audio

7:09 AM.The Prime Minister says he's confident Mighty River Power will remain mostly in New Zealand ownership partly because of the billions of dollars sitting in bank deposits and Kiwisaver funds. Audio

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

6:39 AM.An investment portfolio manager says there's likely to be strong demand in New Zealand for shares in Mighty River Power. Audio

6:27 AM.A United Nations report has urged the government to ensure that the partial privatisation of energy companies doesn't take away Maori rights to freshwater; Meanwhile, the Maori Council says Treaty… Read more Audio

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

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

6:14 AM.The Queen has left London's King Edward the Seventh Hospital where she was being treated for symptoms of gastroenteritis. Audio

6:00 AM.Billions in savings should keep Mighty River Power in NZ hands; Mighty River Power on the block; Corporal Ben Carson's father speaks out on Defence investigation; First census in seven years takes… Read more Audio