Morning Report for Thursday 14 May 2015

12:35 PM.News from the rural and farming sectors. Audio

12:24 PM.For the latest from the markets we're joined by Brad Gordon at Macquarie Private Wealth. Audio

12:20 PM.Activity in the manufacturing sector has eased, but economists say it's too soon to tell if it reflects weakness in the economy, or the impact of holidays. Audio

12:19 PM.The New Zealand dollar has jumped following weaker than expected retail sales figures in the United States. Audio

12:17 PM.A strong economy and lower fuel prices have prompted a strong boost in consumer spending. Audio

8:58 AM.The organisers of the Auckland Writers' Festival are pegging this year's event as the biggest yet. Audio

8:55 AM.A student leader says the rising cost of university education is tempting some students to cheat to ensure the money and time spent on courses isn't wasted. Audio

8:50 AM.The death toll from Tuesday's earthquake in Nepal is now 80. Audio

8:46 AM.The Crown entity, Landcorp, is eager to go ahead with selling farms in Pukehina that had been at the centre of a Court of Appeal judgement that's found in its favour; New research from Statistics New… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Concerns have been raised that advertising e-cigarettes could attract non-smokers. Audio

8:38 AM.New research out of Australia claims that salt kills more people than car crashes. Audio

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

8:28 AM.There's a massive change looming for the next census. Audio

8:24 AM.The Reserve Bank also in that statement issued a warning about the high levels of debt in the dairy sector, saying this was a risk to the financial system. Audio

8:20 AM.In a bid to cool Auckland's overheated housing market, investors will soon need a 30 percent deposit before they can get a bank loan. Audio

8:16 AM.A security analyst says the people running the government's first full review of intelligence agencies are ill-equipped to do the job. Audio

8:11 AM.Walls of water and massive slips are facing commuters heading south to Wellington this morning. Audio

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

7:56 AM.A woman who was badly injured in the February 2011 earthquake is critical of the proposed design of the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial. Audio

7:48 AM.Rescue workers are sifting through the wreckage of the Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia. Audio

7:46 AM.A body that represents supermarket operators is considering appealing Auckland Council's draft Local Alcohol Policy. Audio

7:43 AM.Chris Reid is a producer at Radio New Zealand .. he is stuck just north of Paekakariki Audio

7:38 AM.Geoff Bennett is a Kiwi who has lived on Norfolk Island for about 50 years. Audio

7:34 AM.Three hundred New Zealanders living on Norfolk Island are about to lose their rights to social benefits. Audio

7:27 AM.It's commuter chaos on the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington today, with motorists describing 'massive deluges' which have caused slips and flooding and closed part of State Highway 1. Audio

7:21 AM.A young New Zealand man facing the death penalty in China had just five hours to put his case in his trial on drugs charges. Audio

7:14 AM.Listening to that was the Finance Minister, Bill English. Audio

7:11 AM.House buyers in Auckland doubt the Reserve Bank's efforts to discourage property investors in the city will dampen prices. Audio

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

6:58 AM.Trade Me Property says the average asking price for houses has risen 35 percent in the past 5 years. Audio

6:58 AM.Wall Street is mixed after flat retail data from the US in April. Audio

6:56 AM.The world's second largest bank will be actively touting for New Zealand exporters' business when it fronts up to Export NZ's Go Global conference in Auckland today. Audio

6:55 AM.Two lobby groups are urging the Government to follow its Australian counterpart. Audio

6:54 AM.Meanwhile, borrowers outside of Auckland do get a reprieve, with the existing 10 percent limit on new mortgage lending to potential borrowers with deposits of less than 20 percent rising to 15… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.Property investors are not happy. Audio

6:49 AM.The Reserve Bank says reining in property investors is critical in cooling Auckland's overheated housing market. Audio

6:40 AM.The Labour Party says it's time the Government stepped in to deal with foreign property speculators Audio

6:28 AM.The Crown entity, Landcorp, is eager to go ahead with selling farms in Pukehina that had been at the centre of a Court of Appeal judgement that's found in its favour; The Maori Centre of Research… Read more Audio

6:24 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:18 AM.The latest from the Pacific region Audio

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

6:00 AM.Widespread doubt the Reserve Bank can do enough to dampen a rampant Auckland property market. Peter Gardner waits for Chinese judges to rule whether he's guilty of smuggling drugs and three hundred… Read more Audio