Morning Report for Friday 28 August 2015

8:54 AM.We're joined in the studio now by Kevin Ikin. Audio

8:50 AM.Today our rural reporter Kevin Ikin retires after more than 40 years with Radio New Zealand. Audio

8:46 AM.Submissions close today for a proposal for Wanganui District to be spelled with an H; Hundreds of people are expected to flock to Pukeiti near the slops of Mount Taranaki tomorrow to witness the… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The first sod's being turned today on the Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway. Audio

8:39 AM.A Northland power company says it would be cheaper to build its own transmission lines than pay the vastly higher charges it will face if a proposed new pricing system is adopted. Audio

8:33 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector Audio

8:27 AM.NASA scientists say low-lying US states such as Florida are at risk of disappearing, as are some of the world's major cities such as Singapore and Tokyo. Audio

8:23 AM.Beachfront residents in Christchurch are vowing to fight the city council's decision to classify their neighbourhoods as being in an official coastal hazard zone. Audio

8:18 AM.It's being called a social media murder, but an America professor of psychiatry says the shooting of two Virginia journalists was more likely the result of untreated mental illness. Audio

8:14 AM.A former chief social worker at Child, Youth and Family says it's disappointing the services for children in state care haven't improved in decades. Audio

8:11 AM.The Principal Youth Court Judge says the link between how well Child, Youth and Family does its job, and the number of cases coming before his court, is profound -- and concerning. Audio

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

7:57 AM.The so-called Leaning Tower of Wellington is getting the go-ahead, after it was granted resource consent yesterday. Audio

7:53 AM.The wider Taranaki economy is taking a hit from reduced dairy payouts and declining oil and gas activity, according to the latest reports from two of the major banks. Audio

7:50 AM.Unions are acknowledging that progress has been made to improve safety in the forest industry. Audio

7:47 AM.A New Zealand nurse working for a humanitarian organisation in South Sudan has spoken about the death of two of her colleagues last week. Audio

7:41 AM.Fire has ripped through Glenmark Rugby Clubrooms in North Canterbury, destroying it. Audio

7:36 AM.Niwa says it will no longer pay membership fees for its staff to belong to the Association of Scientists, saying the group actively lobbies against science and the integrity of scientists. Audio

7:26 AM.All Blacks coach Steve Hansen names his 31-player World Cup squad this Sunday. Audio

7:23 AM.The Government's controversial health and safety law passed its final hurdle in Parliament last night with opposition MPs saying so many corners have been cut, workers will pay with their lives. Audio

7:18 AM.Dozens of migrants have been found dead inside a truck in Austria. Audio

7:11 AM.The Principal Youth Court judge is welcoming promises to overhaul Child Youth and Family, saying youth courts are becoming a clearinghouse for CYF's failures. Audio

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

6:58 AM.Wall Street has made gains after strong economic data from the United States. Audio

6:57 AM.The entrepreneur, Diane Foreman, has written a how-to-book with tips on how to be successful in business. Audio

6:56 AM.The state-owned broadcaster, TVNZ, will continue to focus on grabbing more market share and reducing costs. Audio

6:55 AM.New Zealand Oil and Gas is concentrating on buying cheap assets and wringing more out of its Kupe field. Audio

6:53 AM.Tourism Holdings says it's turning its focus to revenue growth after slashing its campervan fleet. Audio

6:51 AM.Hellaby Holdings' is putting its footwear businesss up for sale after reporting record full-year earnings. Audio

6:50 AM.The latest survey on economic activity has one economist calling it anemic. Audio

6:49 AM.Fisher & Paykel says the lower New Zealand dollar is having a big impact on its bottomline. Audio

6:39 AM.An urgent debate took place in Parliament yesterday on the Childrens Commissioner's highly critical report on state care of children with MPs from both sides of the house saying not enough has been… Read more Audio

6:26 AM.Submissions close today for a proposal for Wanganui District to be spelled with an H; Hundreds of people are expected to flock to Pukeiti near the slops of Mount Taranaki tomorrow to witness the… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.Today our colleague Kevin Ikin retires. Kevin's been bringing us the rural news for nearly thirty years. Here's the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy. Audio

6:19 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:17 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

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

6:00 AM.The Principal Youth Court Judge, Andrew Becroft, tells us too many children in state care end up in his court. Dozens of migrants bodies are found in the back of a truck in Austria and Opposition MPs… Read more Audio