Morning Report for Thursday 21 August 2014

8:55 AM.Seventeen current and former Cronulla Sharks players have until tomorrow to decide whether to accept a 'plea bargain' over doping. Audio

8:52 AM.The Government's promising faster responses and better care from a multi-million-dollar boost to the country's ambulance services. Audio

8:47 AM.A Ngapuhi kaumatua has lodged a claim for up to 2.3 billion dollars for government delays in settling the land claims of Tai Tokerau hapu; The Labour leader David Cunliffe says the unemployment rate… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.The Queenstown business community has taken its first look at the local council's detailed plans for a convention centre. Audio

8:43 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to Professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago, a specialist in electoral law. Audio

8:36 AM.Today is 'D' day for Wellington blues musician Darren Watson, who's been told he has until 5 o'clock to declare himself a political promoter or else face prosecution for selling his satirical song… Read more Audio

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

8:26 AM.The American Attorney General, Eric Holder, is due to arrive in Missouri today, after an 11th-straight night of protests in Ferguson. Audio

8:20 AM.Two companies seen as barometers for what is happening in the economy, Freightways and Fletcher Building, have posted strong financial results this week. Audio

8:15 AM.Suzie Ferguson talks to John Ansell who has handled election advertising for both the National and Act parties. Audio

8:10 AM.Some of the smaller parties say policy debates are being drowned out by the clamour surrounding the behaviour of the Justice Minister Judith Collins. Audio

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

7:55 AM.Despite the number of people killing themselves falling to a seven year low, the chief coroner says the suicide rate is still too high. Audio

7:51 AM.St John is recruiting an additional 158 staff after receiving a funding boost. Audio

7:47 AM.The Israeli military has carried out 60 air strikes in Gaza overnight - one of them killing the wife and child of the Hamas militant leader, Mohammed Deif, and several other people. Audio

7:42 AM.Barack Obama spoke a short time ago saying James Foley's death has sent shockwaves across the globe. Audio

7:37 AM.The United States President, Barack Obama, says he is heartbroken by the death of the American journalist, James Foley. Audio

7:22 AM.The Prime Minister John Key says the Justice Minister Judith Collins has been held responsible for the leaking of a public servant's personal details. Audio

7:16 AM.An intelligence expert says John Key's Government would have tough questions to answer if "smoking gun" links between the SIS and rightwing blogger Cameron Slater are uncovered in an investigation. Audio

7:10 AM.Mighty River Power is hotly denying claims made by Labour that its profits are outrageous. Audio

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

6:59 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:58 AM.A dairy analyst says China's dairy market will become more competitive following sanctions Russia slapped on Europe, the United States and Australia earlier this month. Audio

6:56 AM.All Trade Me's sales growth is coming from classified advertising and sales at its traditional online marketplace business fell 1 percent in the latest year. Audio

6:55 AM.The head of Fletcher Building says the company is well positioned to take advantage of continued growth in the New Zealand market, though he is less positive about the opportunities in Australia. Audio

6:53 AM.A spike in the price of Fisher & Paykel's share price, just ahead of the company's annual general meeting in Auckland yesterday, has been downplayed by the company's chief executive. Audio

6:51 AM.Mighty River Power is forecasting this year's operating profit will be essentially flat. Audio

6:48 AM.Ports of Auckland near doubled annual net profit to a record after increasing both container and non-containerised cargoes. Audio

6:42 AM.Several investigations are now under way into allegations in the book Dirty Politics, that National abused its power to smear the reputations of its political opponents and a public servant. Audio

6:28 AM.The Labour leader David Cunliffe says the electorate of Te Tai Tokerau has gone backwards under six years of a National-led government; The Electoral Commission says so far just under 30-thousand New… Read more Audio

6:24 AM.Labour says the latest information on the state of the government's books shows the need for its policy of gradually raising the retirement age to 67. Audio

6:20 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

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

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

6:00 AM.Mighty River Power posts big profit; Intelligence expert says govt could have serious questions to answer; Key says Justice Minister has been held responsible; Fears other Western journalists will… Read more Audio