Morning Report for Wednesday 12 February 2014

8:55 AM.Shirley Temple, the curly-haired American child star who put smiles on the faces of Depression-era moviegoers, has died aged 85. Audio

8:53 AM.Watercare says it could at least another 24 hours before tap water in west Auckland is clear of an algal bloom. Audio

8:50 AM.2014 may become the hottest year since records began, with scientists predicting a 75 percent chance of an El Niño event this year. Audio

8:47 AM.The business division of Tainui has pulled out of plans to develop a 26-million dollar hotel and conference centre in Tauranga; The country's third largest iwi, Ngati Kahungunu, wants the government's… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The level of discontent with government-owned insurer Southern Response appears to be growing. Audio

8:39 AM.A High Court jury in Christchurch has been told Mellory Manning was well aware of the dangers of being a prostitute. 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

8:25 AM.Once a slightly boring compliance issue, privacy is now a pressing political issue. Audio

8:20 AM.The Salvation Army says there needs to be more pressure on the Government to tackle what it calls the ticking timebomb of child poverty. Audio

8:16 AM.The Government has been in the gun this morning over its education plans. Audio

8:13 AM.We speak to the Labour leader, David Cunliffe, who says big corporates want their profits put above public health. Audio

8:09 AM.New Zealand is a step closer to plain packaging of cigarettes - with legislation passing its first reading in Parliament with just one opposing vote. Audio

7:57 AM.Modern art, money and politics could collide today as Auckland councillors ponder a one million dollar representation of a State House, destined for the city waterfront. Audio

7:53 AM.Snow conditions at the Winter Olympics in Russia are continuing to cause consternation. Audio

7:48 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:43 AM.The level of child poverty is a timebomb that could lead to future problems with the economy, according to the Salvation Army's latest State of the Nation report. Audio

7:38 AM.Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has been listening to that, he joins us in the studio. Audio

7:35 AM.Questions are being raised as to whether universities and wananga will be better off with leaner governance bodies. Audio

7:21 AM.Flood ravaged Britain is being hit by another rain storm. Audio

7:18 AM.The Education Minister says figures showing the five new charter schools are receiving much more money per student than public schoools, are not comparing apples with apples. Audio

7:13 AM.Listening to that is the co-leader of the Green Party, Russel Norman. Audio

7:09 AM.Parliament voted almost unanimously last night to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes but MPs expect tobacco companies to fight back in the courts. Audio

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

6:35 AM.Parliament voted almost unanimously last night to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes but MPs expect tobacco companies to fight back in the courts. Audio

6:27 AM.The country's third largest iwi, Ngati Kahungunu, wants the government's Maori language strategy to invest in efforts to keep tribal dialects alive; A trustee for the Taranaki iwi, Ngati Maru, says it… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.Morning Rural News for 12 February 2014 Audio

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

6:12 AM.The Salvation Army's latest State of the Nation report says child poverty is a ticking timebomb. Audio

6:00 AM.Tobacco plain packing bill passes first reading, Greens call for TPP deal to be made public, Education Minister says charter school funding not comparing 'apples with apples', UK floods: Hard hit… Read more Audio