Morning Report for Thursday 3 April 2014

8:53 AM.The Invercargill City Council boss at the centre of a cat trap controversy has apologised and retracted his previous 'no questions asked' policy towards catching and disposing of cats. Audio

8:49 AM.Annabel Anderson is about to attempt to become the first woman, and only the second person, to cross Cook Strait while standing on a paddle board. Audio

8:46 AM.The future of birthing units in two small Waikato towns hangs in the balance as the district health board considers closing them. Audio

8:43 AM.A Hamilton-based Maori Women's Refuge believes vulnerable people will think twice before seeking help from the newly announced Whanau Ora agency because of controversial comments made by its… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Senior officials say foreign-trained doctors struggling to find jobs in this country are caught in a perfect storm. Audio

8:36 AM.The trial of three former South Canterbury Finance directors has entered a new phase with evidence being heard from those involved in each of the nine key transactions the crown says broke the law. Audio

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

8:28 AM.Listening to that was Wellington barrister Victoria Casey. Audio

8:25 AM.The friends and family of anyone involved in professional rugby will be banned from betting on the sport under new rules from the game's governing body. Audio

8:21 AM.Transpower has signalled it could pay higher dividends to the Government now its upgrade of the national electricity grid is completed. Audio

8:18 AM.Staying with earthquakes and three years on from the deadly quake in Christchurch an increasing number of children are turning to counselling services for help. Audio

8:15 AM.Rachel Lilburn is a New Zealander who's also in Antofogasta has been living in Chile for five years, along with her partner and two children. Audio

8:11 AM.Patrick Moore is a geologist living in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta, about 500 kilometres from the quake epicentre and says it's surprising there have been so few fatalities. Audio

7:56 AM.The Attorney General is accusing a television journalist of planning with a lawyer during a trial to spice up a story for the evening news. Audio

7:53 AM.A government-appointed board is to be put in charge of a Northland school that's been under the control of a commissioner for two years. Audio

7:49 AM.The job market for doctors is tightening with at least 31 overseas-trained doctors complaining they are being shut out of jobs. Audio

7:46 AM.The move into the directory business by New Zealand Post hasn't worked out with it selling its directory business Localist at a loss of 20 million dollars. Audio

7:41 AM.Labour and the Greens are not committing to allowing potential oil exploration permits to go ahead should they form the next Government. Audio

7:39 AM.A decision to not hand Olympic drug cheat Nadzeya Ostapchuk a life ban from shot putting has been criticised by New Zealand's Valerie Adams. Audio

7:26 AM.Attempts to stop close relatives and friends of rugby players from betting on their games are being described as ridiculous and impractical. Audio

7:17 AM.Transpower is promising to pay the Government a higher dividend but Opposition parties say that money should be going to consumers through cheaper power prices. Audio

7:13 AM.Our correspondent, Ed Vernon is in the Chilean capital Santiago. Audio

6:45 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:41 AM.Segolene Royal, the former partner of French President Francois Hollande, has joined the government in a major Socialist reshuffle. Audio

6:39 AM.Transpower, has told the Government it can pay a bigger dividend next year now that its upgrade of the national electricity grid is finished. Audio

6:37 AM.Tsunami warnings have been lifted along most of South America's Pacific coastline after yesterday's 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Chile. Audio

6:25 AM.A large North Island iwi has given the thumbs up for oil and gas exploration around Danniverke - provided there's no harm to the environment; A Hamilton-based Maori Women's Refuge believe vulnerable… Read more Audio

6:19 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:14 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:10 AM.The Green Party says the Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges, should step down as associate climate change minister because he supports more oil drilling in New Zealand. Audio

6:01 AM.Aftershocks continue in Chile after yesterday's 8.2 earthquake but tsunami alerts have now been lifted. Higher dividends to the Government or cheaper electricity for consumers? The opposition and the… Read more Audio