Morning Report for Friday 22 March 2013

8:55 AM.News and views from Julia Gillard including: Simon Crean's ability to count; vitriol directed at Kevin Rudd, and; a fair share of censure for the media as well. Audio

8:52 AM.Christchurch police are putting more officers on the road to combat the rapidly growing numbers of boy-racers cruising the streets of the South Island's largest city. Audio

8:48 AM.The Maori Women's Welfare League is looking at whether it should provide Whanau Ora services; Ngai Tuhoe is due to initial a multi-million dollar Deed of Settlement at Parliament today; The chief… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Council of Trade Unions' James Sleep and the Employer and Manufacturers Association's David Lowe discuss the implications of the new legislation. Audio

8:39 AM.The third and final test match begins at Auckland's Eden Park this morning and former New Zealand coach and player Warren Lees appraises both sides. Audio

8:30 AM.Kevin Rudd's former chief of staff and director at Hawker Britton, Simon Banks, and the executive director of The Sydney Institute, Gerard Henderson, debate the issue. Audio

8:17 AM.Finance minister Bill English joins the programme on the last day to pre-register interest for shares in the Mighty River Power share float. Audio

8:14 AM.The police have found the 11-day old baby who had been snatched from Auckland's Starship hospital by his mother. The communications manager for the Auckland District Health Board, Mark Fenwick, gives… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.Business Editor Patrick O'Meara looks at the potential implications for the anticipated fifteen-hundred plus job redundancies at the nation's largest telco, Telecom. Audio

7:56 AM.Arts on Sunday reporter Justin Gregory gives a run-down on the week just past and on what to expect on the final work of the festival this weekend. Audio

7:53 AM.The company that has the main contract for repairing houses in Christchurch, Fletcher Earthquake Recovery, is assuring taxpayers it's doing everything it can to avoid any fraudulent behaviour. Audio

7:49 AM.Sir Edmund Hillary's son Peter Hillary says George Lowe was one of the team that "knocked the bastard off" and that he meant a great deal to his father. Audio

7:45 AM.The Bainimarama regime has reneged on its commitment to appoint a Constituent Assembly to debate the draft constitution. Audio

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

7:38 AM.There is still no breakthrough in the hunt for the killer of roadworker George Taiaroa and locals say they hope the police find the culprit soon so the area can feel safe again. Audio

7:37 AM.Today is the final day to pre-register for Mighty River Power shares and, as of last night, 420-thousand people done so. Audio

7:27 AM.The Justice Minister has dug in her heels and is defending Dame Susan Devoy as the new Race Relations Commissioner, after challenges to the appointment by some politicians. Audio

7:22 AM.Julia Gillard has cemented her position as Australian Prime Minister after a challenge by her predecessor Kevin Rudd evaporated at the last moment yesterday. Audio

7:18 AM.Police say the baby, with special needs, has been snatched from Auckland Hospital by his mother, and they require help from the public to find young Jacob. Audio

7:15 AM.The scope of Telecom's potential job cuts has come as no surprise to people in the sector, with the head of the Telecommunications User's Association describing the company as over-staffed. Audio

7:10 AM.The Labour Party's IT spokesperson Clare Curran, quoting inside sources, says the company will announce what would one of the country's largest ever corporate redundancies within weeks. Audio

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

6:41 AM.The former Race Relations Conciliator and now Labour MP, Dr Rajen Prasad, says Dame Susan Devoy will have to be more circumspect about what she says given her new role as Race Relations Commissioner. Audio

6:37 AM.Sources within Telecom have warned of impending job losses at the telco, potentially totalling over 15-hundred redundancies. Audio

6:27 AM.A new Maori Women's Welfare League executive is considering an idea raised by one of its life members regarding the social welfare policy, Whanau Ora; Ngai Tuhoe is due to initial a multi-million… Read more Audio

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

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

6:15 AM.The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says he is confident that Fletchers is vigilant about fraud and is doing what it can to prevent it in the Christchurch rebuild after accusations from… Read more Audio

6:13 AM.After a plan to tax banks deposits was rejected earlier this week, the government in Cyprus will vote on whether to proceed with a state "investment solidarity fund" which would issue bonds to raise… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.The SOE's share float pre-registry closes at 5pm today and the executive director of Milford Asset Management says the response so far has been bigger than he'd expected. Audio

6:00 AM.Telecom likely to shed 1,500 plus jobs; Missing special needs baby in Auckland; Australian PM consolidates leadership of party; Justice Minister back Race Relations appointee; Mighty River Power float… Read more Audio