Morning Report for Friday 29 November 2013

8:56 AM.Qantas and the easing of foreign ownership restrictions in Australia's airline industry. Audio

8:48 AM.The future of a tribal-owned rural hospital on the East Coast is being decided in a review of the region's health services; Ngati Toa people wanting to buy a home are benefiting from a special deal… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Stardome's honorary astronomer Dr Grant Christie has been monitoring the journey of comet ISON and guages whether we can expect to be astounded or perhaps underwhelmed. Audio

8:43 AM.A new report commissioned, by the Church of England itself, finds that the Church should lift its ban on the blessing of same-sex relationships. Audio

8:39 AM.Laid-off Tachikawa sawmill workers believe their protest in Rotorua has helped stop a log supply firm from pursuing legal action that would jeopardise them receiving their final payout. Audio

8:36 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:19 AM.The Morgan Foundation's first annual River Awards in Wellington last night highlight some good news stories around New Zealand waterways and the communities striving to improve the lot of our fresh… Read more Audio

8:14 AM.The National Party has been left standing alone after United Future, the Maori Party, ACT, New Zealand First, the Green Party, Mana and Labour - in a rare act of untiy - voted not to support proposed… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.A senior lawyer wants the Auditor General to launch an investigation after the Ministry of Justice mothballed the third phase of an $18-million project to modernise the courts system. Audio

7:56 AM.The last remaining analogue signal covering the upper North Island, from Taupo to Auckland, will be turned off on Sunday. Audio

7:52 AM.This weekend New Zealand has the chance to again do the unthinkable and upset the world's best rugby league nation, Australia, and claim the sport's World Cup in Brisbane. Audio

7:49 AM.Ten candidates are contesting the Christchurch East electorate left vacant by, now Christchurch mayor, Lianne Dalziel - and it seems their biggest challenge will be motivating people to actually get… Read more Audio

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

7:41 AM.The Christchurch City Council says it has reached a compromise with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, and voted unanimously to support a plan to intensify housing in the… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.Australia is the latest country implicated in a football betting scandal, with a 'fixer' claiming to have set up World Cup results involving the Socceroos. Audio

7:28 AM.A look back on the career 'to date' of the venerable Geoff Robinson, who will be retiring as Morning Report host in April next year. Audio

7:24 AM.Both sides of a legal war, that's being raging since the raid on the Dotcom mansion in January last year, have been back in court arguing over whether warrants used in the search were lawful. Audio

7:22 AM.On the last day of campaigning before tomorrow's by-election, we hear from the three main candidates: Labour's Poto Williams; National's Matthew Doocey, and; the Green's David Moorhouse. Audio

7:21 AM.Despite multiple reports to the contrary, the Ministry of Education refuses to accept that the National Standards programme isn't working. Audio

7:17 AM.Reports this week deliver bad news about the state of primary schools: one revealing most year-8 students are behind in writing and science, and; a Waikato University study says the national standards… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.The telecommunications infrastructure company Chorus says it is committed to finding a solution after political parties - in a surprise show of unity - blocked the Government from over-riding a… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.A senior lawyer is calling for the Auditor General to investigate after the Ministry of Justice mothballed the third phase of a multi-million dollar project to modernise the courts system. Audio

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

6:38 AM.Political parties blocking any legislation over-riding the competition watchdog, on the price of copper broadband, say it's up to the Government to come up with a solution that doesn't leave taxpayers… Read more Audio

6:27 AM.The future of a tribal-owned rural hospital on the East Coast is being decided in a review of the region's health services; Ngati Toa people wanting to buy a home are benefiting from a special deal… Read more Audio

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

6:18 AM.WHO Increases surveillance of zika virus in Pacific; Claims controversial land leases cost PNG a third of its territory; French Polynesian loan agreement signature deferred; PNA wants compensation for… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.Yingluck Shinawatra has survived a vote of no-confidence, despite five days of protests around the country. Audio

6:10 AM.Real estate company says investors are flooding market and taking advantage of gap left by departure of many first-time buyers as Reserve Bank's new home loan lending rules kick in. Audio