Morning Report for Tuesday 6 August 2013

8:57 AM.The singer of one of New Zealand's best known songs, Blue Smoke, has died. Pixie Costello, also known as Pixie Williams, was 85. Audio

8:54 AM.A new generation of people moving into aged care has prompted a welfare group to launch a how-to kit for carers looking after gay retirees. Audio

8:49 AM.The government's being encouraged to work with Maori to make sure a trade agreement with Taiwan becomes a reality; Two Waikato iwi that have partnered up with Lincoln University to develop a new… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.The world's first stem-cell hamburger has been made, and eaten in London overnight. Audio

8:40 AM.New Zealand's recycling industry is starting to feel the heat - from a Chinese crackdown on plastic imports. 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.The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd's personal popularity has slumped, in a new poll released on the first day of the election campaign. Audio

8:23 AM.The Pike River families have urged politicians to listen to those with on-the-ground experience while forming new safety laws. Audio

8:19 AM.Critics say the food contamination scare has highlighted the dangers of New Zealand's reliance on the dairy sector. Audio

8:14 AM.The infant formula company Nutricia has widened the recall of its products. Audio

8:10 AM.Dairy farmers are demanding accountability over the tainted milk formula scandal, saying heads should roll at Fonterra. Audio

7:57 AM.England has retained the Ashes for a third straight series after rain ruined Australia's chances of a win at Old Trafford. Audio

7:54 AM.United States embassies which were forced to close on Sunday in the face of an al Qaeda terrorist threat will now remain closed all week. Audio

7:51 AM.The police in Northland are considering whether to take any further action against an officer involved in an arrest when a man was seriously injured. Audio

7:47 AM.An international expert on dams and earthquakes says dams the size of the proposed Ruataniwha water scheme in Hawke's Bay can trigger earthquakes. Audio

7:45 AM.Five men who worked for the failed finance company, South Canterbury Finance, will enter pleas on fraud charges this morning. Audio

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

7:37 AM.The Pike River families have made a sometimes emotional plea to a select committee to improve the culture within the mining sector. Audio

7:34 AM.Today, the Government Communications Security Bureau Bill will undergo a clause-by-clause debate in parliament. Audio

7:26 AM.David Bain's legal team will today ask the High Court for access to the advice the Minister of Justice received over his compensation claim. Audio

7:20 AM.More than two thousand tonnes of infant formula has been manufactured in New Zealand and Australia using the contaminated whey protein concentrate. Audio

7:15 AM.As the Government's frustration over Fonterra's handling of the contamination has grown, it has been the Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, also known as Mr Fix-it, handling the crisis talks.

7:11 AM.The head of New Zealand milk products at Fonterra, Gary Romano, is defending the company's performance. Audio

7:09 AM.Fonterra says 90 percent of contaminated milk products have now been identified and removed from shelves. Audio

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

6:39 AM.Vietnam is another country that has recalled infant formula. Audio

6:35 AM.Fonterra has been on a media offensive in China as the company seeks to reassure customers and convince the government that its products are safe. Audio

6:27 AM.The government's being encouraged to work with Maori to make sure a trade agreement with Taiwan becomes a reality; Two Waikato iwi that have partnered up with Lincoln University to develop a new… 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.A microbiologist says the Fonterra contamination scare brings cleaning procedures at milk processing plants into question. Audio

6:10 AM.The Trade Minister says it's inevitable New Zealand's international reputation will suffer as a result of the Fonterra contamination scare, but hopefully only in the short term. Audio

6:00 AM.Anger mounts over tainted formula as Fonterra fronts up, Markets and parents left reeling as contamination scandal, Minister remains far from happy over Fonterra milk threat, Markets and parents left… Read more Audio