Morning Report for Wednesday 23 April 2014

8:58 AM.The confirmed death toll from the South Korean ferry that capsized last week is likely to grow as authorities confirm that divers have just reached the ship's cafeteria where it's feared many of the… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.An ambitious project will be launched on Anzac Day to try to photograph all surviving World War Two veterans. The Veteran Portrait Project is being run by the Institute of Professional Photographers… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.With just days left before applications for adopting a Kaimanawa horse close, horse lovers are being encouraged to snap up a bargain. About 180 Kaimanawa horses will be removed in the Department of… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.The Green Party plans to today launch New Zealand's first ever crowd-sourced bill. The private member's bill is intended to include 10 basic rights and freedoms for internet users as well as providing… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Maori Council says it's shocked Shane Jones is leaving Parliament - and calls him an outstanding politician; A researcher is rejecting a government minister's claim that Maori research will… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.All climbing on Mt Everst may be off this season as Nepalese guides consider a government offer of compensation. Sixteen sherpas were killed during an avalanche last week and some of their colleagues… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.New research shows most New Zealand women are failing to meet nutritional guidelines when they're pregnant. Just three percent of the more than five-thousand women surveyed by Auckland University ate… Read more Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:29 AM.People further south are also coming to terms with the pounding they got over the weekend and the true extent of the damage is still being assessed. The Westland District Council says concrete power… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.About 60 properties are still without power six days after a series of storms hit the West Coast. Audio

8:25 AM.Tens of thousands of tourists will need to be processed in a tent at Queenstown International Airport this winter as the resort prepares for its busiest ski season in history. Audio

8:17 AM.Former MP Kelvin Davis is next on the party's list and will replace Mr Jones in Parliament. Mr Davis says he was left speechless when told of Mr Jones' departure. Audio

8:10 AM.Out-spoken Labour MP Shane Jones says he is quitting Parliament because his heart's not in it anymore. Mr Jones, who lost a leadership bid last year, is expected to take up an ambassador-level role in… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Some Nepalese guides on Mount Everest say they will not work on the mountain this year even though the government has agreed to most of their demands. Sherpas acting for Californian Wingsuit stuntman… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.Manchester United football club have sacked their manager, David Moyes, after just ten months in charge. Moyes took over last year following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, who turned the club… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.Further up the coast in the Buller district where one in five homes were damaged in the storm, power is expected to continue to be restored to properties today. About eighty properties were without… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Farmers in the Westland district are stuggling to get back on their feet after the region had trees and buildings torn down during last week's powerful storm. The full extent of damage to Westland in… Read more Audio

7:29 AM.Radio New Zealand Chief Parliamentary Reporter Jane Patterson joins Morning Report to discuss Shane Jones. Audio

7:26 AM.Winston Peters, the leader of the New Zealand First Party, joins Morning Report to discuss Shane Jones' departure from politics. Audio

7:20 AM.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, the man behind the job offer says Mr Jones is the best man for the job. He denies the appointment was politically motivated. Audio

7:15 AM.Shane Jones's departure from Labour is expected to have a huge impact on the party. He was one of the its strongest connections to the Maori electorate and has recently led a blistering attack on the… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Once a contender for the Labour Party leadership, the firebrand MP Shane Jones, is quitting politics. In a shock move, Mr Jones, who unsuccessfully sought the leadership last year, will take up an… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:45 AM.Nepal's government has agreed to some of the demands of the sherpas threatening to quit working on Mt Everest this climbing season. The government will increase life insurance for those working on the… Read more Audio

6:41 AM.Ukraine's Defence Ministry says a Ukrainian military aircraft was hit by gunfire while on a reconnaissance flight over the eastern city of Slaviansk. The city is in the hands of armed pro-Russian… Read more Audio

6:37 AM.In a blow to the Labour Party's election chances, Shane Jones has quit politics. The sudden move was confirmed last night, apparently with some senior party members unaware. Audio

6:26 AM.The Maori Council says it's shocked Shane Jones is leaving Parliament - and calls him an outstanding politician; A researcher is rejecting a government minister's claim that Maori research will… Read more Audio

6:24 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:22 AM.The full extent of damage to Westland in the South Island from last week's intense winds has been revealed. The Westland District Council says concrete power poles were snapped and native forest has… Read more Audio

6:17 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:14 AM.One of the world's richest soccer clubs, Manchester United, has fired its manager, David Moyes, after a series of disappointing results. A troubling season for the team's fans is drawing to a close. Audio

6:11 AM.Labour MP Shane Jones has quit politics in a move that has shocked and surprised many MPs. It's believed he's taking up an role as an economic ambassador in the Pacific - a job offered to him by the… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.In a surprise move, Shane Jones quits Labour; Will Jones' departure from Labour be to National's advantage?; Did Murray McCully 'headhunt' Shane Jones?; New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters; Radio… Read more Audio