Morning Report for Wednesday 18 February 2015

8:58 AM.Five flamboyant days of Carnival partying on the streets of Rio de Janeiro have just ended. Audio

8:55 AM.Revelations that live baiting is being used by some Australian greyhound trainers is being condemned by animal rights groups, authorities and the industry. Audio

8:51 AM.The director of the largest social housing trust in the Nelson Tasman area says regional New Zealand is once again being overlooked in favour of Auckland and Christchurch. Audio

8:48 AM.A Maori Anglican bishop, John Gray, says he is still the vicar-general, despite another bishop being appointed to the role; After failing in its first bid to start an outdoors-focussed charter school… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.A new study into homelessness in Auckland has highlighted the challenges faced by those sleeping rough. Audio

8:40 AM.Mark Lundy was virtually broke at the time of his wife and daughter's deaths, owing almost half a million dollars in debts and having only a small amount of equity in their family home. Audio

8:37 AM.People who travel to and from east Auckland by bus will be riding high by the end of the year, on a new fleet of double-decker buses. Audio

8:31 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:29 AM.The Scottish cricket team says it is proud it could scare the Black Caps in a World Cup match. Audio

8:26 AM.The Government is cracking down on dodgy debt collection practises. Audio

8:23 AM.The Labour Party leader's been caught out in an embarrassing gaffe, after failing to pay a bill to a freelance journalist for work done during last year's leadership campaign. Audio

8:18 AM.Listening to that was Fuller's chief executive Douglas Hudson. Audio

8:16 AM.Auckland ferry services to and from Devonport are running on normal timetables again this morning after yesterday's accident. Audio

8:13 AM.The Government is tabling legislation today to make sure the Maui gas platform can continue to operate. Audio

8:10 AM.A New Zealand aid worker has returned home after working in Syria saying it is not safe for her to return because of the threat in the region from Islamic State terrorists. Audio

8:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:55 AM.Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine say they have taken control of the railway station and the eastern outskirts of the town of Debaltseve Audio

7:52 AM.The Greens say the Labour Leader Andrew Little has broken the law by not consulting them on his decision to oust them from a seat on Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Audio

7:49 AM.A series of signals is increasing the likelihood of an America's Cup qualifying series being held in Auckland, and with it the chance of government funding for Team New Zealand. Audio

7:43 AM.The ongoing protest over state housing changes in Auckland is derailing a home-ownership project for needy families in the Far North. Audio

7:39 AM.The New Zealand dollar touched a post-float record of 96.77 Australian cents overnight, and a short time ago it was trading at 96.30 cents. Audio

7:36 AM.There's been a big jump in global dairy prices overnight, with the latest figures showing a rise of 10.1 percent on the previous auction two weeks ago. Audio

7:29 AM.Staying with New Zealand involvement in Iraq, aid workers say they could become targets if they are sent there. Audio

7:25 AM.The former commander of New Zealand troops in Afghanistan, retired Colonel Richard Hall, says any New Zealand troops sent to Iraq can expect an entirely different ball game to their deployment in… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Egypt's President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called for a United Nations resolution allowing international forces to intervene in Libya. Audio

7:16 AM.The two police officers who pulled a woman from her sinking car in Auckland yesterday say she escaped death by little more than a minute. Audio

7:10 AM.Winston Peters wants the Financial Markets Authority to investigate an apparent surge in SkyCity share sales last Friday. Audio

7:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:59 AM.The Colonial Motor Company says intense competition has hit its bottom line. Audio

6:58 AM.The Dow Jones Index is down 4 points at 18,015. Audio

6:55 AM.The industrial property landlord, Property for Industry, says good properties are getting harder to find, but rising demand should boost rental growth. Audio

6:52 AM.Opus International Consultants has increased its full year profit despite a weaker performance in its key markets of New Zealand and Australia. Audio

6:50 AM.The stock market operator says expanding its funds management arm and more share market listings should drive earnings growth in the coming year. Audio

6:48 AM.The Financial Markets Authority is looking to work with banks to improve the disclosure and transparency in the sales and marketing of complex banking products. Audio

6:47 AM.There's been another jump in dairy prices. Audio

6:38 AM.Former Australian prime ministers have made a united plea for Indonesia to spare the lives of two Australian men on death row. Audio

6:26 AM.A Maori Anglican bishop, John Gray, says he is still the vicar-general, despite the role being appointed to another bishop; After failing in its first bid to start an outdoors-focussed charter school… Read more Audio

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

6:19 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:10 AM.A Far North trust trying to buy empty state houses in Auckland is pleading with housing activists to let the homes go. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Twist in the SkyCity saga - Winston Peters wants to know if there's been insider trading. Praise for police officers who pulled a woman from a sinking car and a warning that Islamic extremists in… Read more Audio