Morning Report for Thursday 29 May 2014

8:54 AM.Living the life of the rich and famous is within reach for a group of students in Nelson. They've just completed a Super Yacht crew programme at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. Audio

8:49 AM.Far from being a threat to fisheries, new research suggests whales, or rather their poo, may play an important role in sustaining fish stocks. Audio

8:45 AM.Scientists believe they've solved the mystery surrounding why sea ice in the Arctic is retreating much faster than previously thought. Audio

8:41 AM.It's emerged - resistance to the sale of the Crafar farms to the Chinese bank, Sino, strained cultural relations with Maori; MPs have been told hotels and retirement villages could go up on the treaty… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.There's a warning that a return to pre-earthquake numbers of houses in Christchurch may not be enough to ease the city's housing crisis. Audio

8:35 AM.Welfare advocates are nervous about what changes an overhaul of social security legislation may usher in. Audio

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

8:25 AM.Parliament descended into a shambles last night over voting on a members bill. Audio

8:21 AM.A former colleague of Laila Harre says her expected appointment to the leader of the Internet Party is weird but a brilliant piece of political strategy. Audio

8:16 AM.Suzie Ferguson talks to the Labour Party's earthquake spokesperson, Clayton Cosgrove. Audio

8:10 AM.Some Canterbury homeowners are rejecting assurances from authorities that they wouldn't have been exposed to asbestos in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. Audio

8:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:57 AM.New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams may get to play at the NBA Finals if the Oklahoma City Thunder win two more games against the San Antonio Spurs. Audio

7:52 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to the chief executive of Housing New Zealand, Glen Sowry. Audio

7:50 AM.Some Petone residents say they've been left in the dark by Housing New Zealand's latest demolition plans. Audio

7:46 AM.Rolf Harris has admitted in court that he was good at hiding the "dark side" of his personality. Audio

7:41 AM.The Salvation Army says trying to measure South Auckland's population in the Census is a lost cause. Audio

7:38 AM.The United States President Barack Obama has outlined his vision for a new chapter in American foreign policy. Audio

7:29 AM.The film industry is hoping its dark days are over. At least two international films have signed contracts to film part of their productions here this year, both making use of an increased grant. Audio

7:23 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to Sandra Lee who was the vice president of the Alliance Party and sat at the Cabinet table with Laila Harre. Audio

7:20 AM.The former Alliance Party MP and cabinet minister, Laila Harre, is expected to be formally announced as the Internet Party leader this afternoon. Audio

7:14 AM.Susie Ferguson talks to the Minister for Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee. Audio

7:09 AM.Some homeowners in Canterbury say they have been exposed to asbestos and have the evidence to prove it. Audio

7:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:58 AM.Wall Street has barely budged this morning, after yesterday's rally, though the S&P 500 index has hit another intraday record. Audio

6:56 AM.The founder of merino clothing manufacturer Icebreaker, Jeremy Moon, says handing over the chief executive role to Rob Fyfe will allow him concentrate on his strengths in design and product… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.The cancer diagnostic company, Pacific Edge, says it's on track to make 100 million dollars in revenues in the United States market within the next five years. Audio

6:51 AM.Restaurant Brands says it's not concerned by a significant fall in same-store sales at its Carl's Jr burger stores because it is off the back of very strong performances from store openings in the… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.An economist says many people are overlooking the huge improvements in productivity dairy farmers have achieved recently. Audio

6:48 AM.Mainfreight has signalled it has no intention of resting on its laurels after producing a record annual result which was above market expectations. Audio

6:45 AM.Further evidence has been heard at the South Canterbury Finance trial that casts a less than flattering light on the actions of the company's former chairperson, the late Allan Hubbard. Audio

6:40 AM.An East Christchurch homeowner says tests carried out on her house in March showed she and her husband had been exposed to asbestos since September 2012. Audio

6:27 AM.Hotels and retirement villages could go up on the treaty estate at Waitangi if the Trust Board is given more power to lease the land; It's emerged - resistance to the sale of the Crafar farms to the… Read more Audio

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

6:16 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:11 AM.The former Alliance Party MP and cabinet minister, Laila Harre, is expected to be formally announced as the Internet Party leader this afternoon. Audio

6:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:00 AM.Homeowners claim they've been exposed to asbestos despite denials from EQC, Brownlee announces multi-agency review into asbestos processes, Laila Harre expected to be announced as Internet Party… Read more Audio