Morning Report for Thursday 3 October 2013

8:57 AM.A mystery New Zealand businessman has bought an Italian island for about 5 million dollars. Audio

8:51 AM.A new report has ranked New Zealand one of the best places in the world to be old. Audio

8:48 AM.The South Island iwi, Ngai Tahu, is still to consider whether to invest in Meridian Energy shares; A Wellington-based Maori Trustboard chair is considering filing a contemporary Waitangi Tribunal… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.As internet-based technology continues to fill households, consumers say they're being hamstrung by miserly data plans. Audio

8:41 AM.Tertiary students and staff say they will fight government plans to cut their statutory right to a place on the governing councils of universities and wananga. Audio

8:38 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:28 AM.Federated Farmers is warning that the effect of this year's drought , which is now officially over, will be felt on some farms for years to come. Audio

8:23 AM.It has been an interesting week in American politics with the US government shutting down on Tuesday after a funding battle over the President Barack Obama's healthcare programme. Audio

8:14 AM.Team New Zealand needs to work quickly to secure funding for another America's Cup challenge, if they want to keep key team members on their side. Audio

8:09 AM.Assaults on staff and patients at mental health units across the country are climbing, with nurses and unions calling for urgent action. Audio

7:55 AM.Calls for councils to set up Maori seats have been ignored by the majority of local authorities. Audio

7:52 AM.Port Nelson has landed the lion's share of an eighty-million-dollar ship repair deal in a move which will create around 200 new jobs. Audio

7:48 AM.The Italian prime minister Enrico Letta has managed to retain control of the government after the former leader, Silvio Berlusconi, gave him a last minute show of support. Audio

7:44 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:41 AM.The first housing development project to come from the much-touted Auckland Housing Accord, signed between the Government and the city's Council will be unveiled today. Audio

7:35 AM.The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says the Government's got the price 'about right' for land it's bought for Christchurch's refurbished central business district. Audio

7:28 AM.The two New Zealand men arrested during a Greenpeace protest in the northern Barents Sea are not among the 14 so far charged with piracy. Audio

7:23 AM.The United States Government has entered day two of its shutdown and there seems to be no end in sight. Audio

7:18 AM.The Prime Minister, John Key, has arrived back from Canberra early this morning saying he was unable to convince Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott that New Zealanders living in Australia are being… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.A campaigner against sexual violence is calling for a senior police officer to step down following comments he made describing a 10-year-old rape victim, as a 'willing participant'. Audio

7:13 AM.The Associate Minister of Health, Todd McClay, is rsponsible for the mental health portfolio. He declined our interview request. He says the issue is between the District Health Boards and the Health… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Assaults on staff and patients at mental health units across the country are climbing, with nurses and unions calling for urgent action. Audio

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

6:36 AM.The safety of staff and patients in the country's mental health units is coming under scrutiny. Audio

6:27 AM.A Wellington-based Maori Trustboard chair is considering filing a contemporary Waitangi Tribunal claim to challenge the government's social welfare policies, which he says are failing Maori; The South… Read more Audio

6:21 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:17 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:13 AM.As campaigning continues for the local government elections a New Zealand think tank is arguing that this country should follow in the footsteps of Switzerland and have more services controlled at… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.The chances of New Zealand mounting another America's Cup challenge in 2017 are to be discussed in the next few days and the government's already suggesting it would be prepared to stump up some of… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.Doctors and nurses call for urgent action over a big increase in assaults against staff and patients at mental health units. A campaigner against sexual violence calls for a senior police officer to… Read more Audio