Morning Report for Friday 4 October 2013

8:56 AM.Let's have a chat to our Canberra correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:54 AM.A rare plague of killer hornets has left 41 people dead and more than 1,600 people injured in northern China. Audio

8:49 AM.Despite a 90 minute meeting between the Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner and President Obama, there's been no progress resolving the shutdown of the American government. Audio

8:46 AM.The Maori Tertiary Students' Association says student representation on wananga councils may be lost if proposed changes are adopted; The business arm of the south island tribe, Ngai Tahu, says the… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Fiji New Zealand relations could remain cool for some time to come, despite an easing of Wellington's stance on Suva. Audio

8:39 AM.Making lifejackets more fashionable, is just one of the suggestions from water safety experts as they investigate how to curb New Zealand's drowning statistics. 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

8:26 AM.The All Blacks take on the Springboks in their very own 'house of pain' this weekend ... Ellis Park in Johannesburg, scene of some of the most searing moments in rugby history. Audio

8:23 AM.Response teams are working to contain and monitor the extent of a diesel spill that has left residents of the central North Island town of Raetihi without running water. Audio

8:19 AM.The Reserve Bank has warned interest rates could rise significantly if the new lending restrictions, which came into force this week, don't slow rising house prices. Audio

8:16 AM.The Immigration Minister has introduced a bill to parliament that aims to crack down on employers exploiting migrant workers. Audio

8:09 AM.The lockdown of the United States Capitol, home of the US Senate and Congress, has just been lifted after an incident in which gunshots were fired outside the building. Audio

7:56 AM.He's the biggest movie star you've probably never heard of. Audio

7:53 AM.Two New Zealanders arrested during a open sea Greenpeace protest near Russia have been charged with piracy. Audio

7:49 AM.The international food giant Danone says it will be claiming at least 200 million euros from Fonterra, after having to recall milk products because of a contamination scare. Audio

7:46 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:41 AM.Thousands of fans are expected to welcome Team New Zealand home at Auckland's Shed 10 at noon, despite the team returning without the America's Cup. Audio

7:36 AM.Crisis talks between the White House and Republicans have failed to break the ongoing impasse. Audio

7:27 AM.The All Blacks have a chance to clinch the Rugby Championship title this weekend when they take on South Africa.... but they'll have to do it at one of the Springboks fortresses, Ellis Park in… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.A police prosecutor has been arrested for possessing and using methamphetamine and cannabis. Audio

7:21 AM.A Ruapehu iwi says a diesel leak into a Tongariro National Park stream that feeds into the Raetihi town water supply is devastating. Audio

7:17 AM.More than 130 people are dead and more than 200 are still missing after a boat full of African migrants sank near the Italian island of Lampedusa. Audio

7:13 AM.Joining us now to discuss the likelihood of a sudden interest rates jump are the ANZ chief economist, Cameron Bagrie, and the chief economist at Westpac, Dominick Stephens. Audio

7:09 AM.Home-owners are being told to get ready for a major hit to their back pockets with predictions that interest rates could reach as much as eight percent by 2016. Audio

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

6:39 AM.Home-owners are being warned to get ready for a hike in interest rates as early as next year. Audio

6:29 AM.The Maori Tertiary Students' Association says student representation on wananga councils may be lost if proposed changes are adopted; The business arm of the south island tribe, Ngai Tahu, says the… Read more Audio

6:24 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

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

6:00 AM.A warning that the days of cheap home finance could soon be over. Disaster off the Italian coast as a boat full of African migrants sinks, with hundreds dead or missing and it's not a victory parade… Read more Audio