Morning Report for Tuesday 17 December 2013

8:53 AM.Scientists in Australia have grown a miniature kidney in a dish - a breakthrough which could be a first step towards growing organs for transplant. Audio

8:50 AM.Proposed new anti-slavery measures in the United Kingdom would mean offenders face being sentenced to life in prison. Audio

8:47 AM.Four lawyers are forming a collective of claimants to challenge the Crown's Treaty settlement process; The Minister of Maori Affairs wants a new pan-tribal electoral college for the Maori Language… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Five councils will carry out rental housing warrant of fitness trials in the New Year, with the aim of creating a national standard. Audio

8:35 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.A group of frustrated Christchurch homeowners is vowing to keep holding their insurer accountable after making limited progress with outstanding claims for earthquake damage. Audio

8:23 AM.Home owners whose properties were damaged in this year's Cook Strait earthquakes could be waiting until 2015 for their claims to be settled. Audio

8:18 AM.Auckland councillors have laid out a path for reconciliation with their embattled mayor Len Brown, but several insist he should resign over breaches of the code of conduct. Audio

8:16 AM.Analysts are expecting a volatile few days for the dollar in a week dominated by the health of the economies of New Zealand and the United States. Audio

8:13 AM.The National Security Agency in America is considering whether to grant an amnesty to Edward Snowden - the former intelligence contractor who leaked classified information from the organisation. Audio

8:09 AM.The Canadian province of Alberta has contradicted the claims made by the Taranaki Regional Council that it allows fracking waste to be disposed of on farmland. Audio

7:55 AM.An engineering student from New Plymouth is about to become the first New Zealander to go into space. Audio

7:52 AM.Police and customs officers have intercepted two hundred and sixty four kilograms of ingredients used to make methamphetamine. Audio

7:49 AM.Some home buyers appear to be getting around Reserve Bank low-equity lending rules, by borrowing from finance companies instead. Audio

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

7:41 AM.The Treaty of Waitangi negotiations minister, Chris Finlayson, denies forcing a change of representation onto some groups of Maori. Audio

7:35 AM.Descendants of traditional leaders from more than a dozen iwi and hapu are taking a case against the Crown. Audio

7:29 AM.The United Nations has launched its biggest ever appeal for global aid. Audio

7:25 AM.The Prime Minister has described Mana leader Hone Harawira's trip to South Africa as a "jolly" and says taxpayers shouldn't have funded it. Audio

7:21 AM.Film industry heavyweights are welcoming the government's decision to increase tax rebates for movie makers. Audio

7:17 AM.Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act that was passed last year, new alcohol laws will come into force at midnight. Bars will have to close earlier and police will have new powers to issue spot… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.GNS Science has recorded a significant earthquake 75 kilometres west of Tuatapere, in Southland, but it appears to have caused little immediate damage. Audio

7:09 AM.The Taranaki Regional Council claims to be following international best practice in allowing fracking waste to be disposed of on farmland in the region. Audio

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

6:40 AM.The film and television industry says increased rebates for productions will breathe much needed life back into the industry. Audio

6:37 AM.Authorities in Canada have contradicted claims that the Taranaki Regional Council is following best practice in the disposal of fracking waste. Audio

6:27 AM.Four lawyers are forming a collective of claimants to challenge the Crown's Treaty settlement process; The Minister of Maori Affairs wants a new pan-tribal electoral college for the Maori Language… Read more Audio

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

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

6:11 AM.The United Nations has launched its biggest ever appeal for global aid. Audio

6:00 AM.Impact of fracking and landfarming questioned; Big quake rocks Fiordland; New alcohol laws from midnight; Film makers welcome government rebate decision for their industry; Harawira defends trip to… Read more Audio