Morning Report for Thursday 17 December 2015

8:55 AM.Someone in Porirua East is 15 million dollars richer after hitting the Powerball jackpot. Audio

8:52 AM.There have been seemingly endless stories this year about house prices, interest rates, and loan-to-value ratios. Audio

8:49 AM.A truckload of the country's most important Maori artefacts and historical treasures have found their way home this week to Waitangi - after an absence of more than a century. Audio

8:43 AM.At midnight last night, the much-anticipated The Force Awakens opened in cinemas around the country. Audio

8:39 AM.The Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association says the Whangaruru charter school facing closure was a total waste of 4.8 million dollars. Audio

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:26 AM.The US Federal Reserve has just announced an interest rate rise by a quarter of a percentage point - the first rise in nearly a decade. Audio

8:23 AM.The oil industry says a sharp fall in the number of companies wanting to explore in New Zealand does not mean the country has no future as an oil producer. Audio

8:16 AM.Questions are being raised about the Prime Minister's media interviews John Key is making headlines for all the wrong reasons - again. Audio

8:11 AM.In an unprecedented move, the United Nations says women should be strongly encouraged to apply for the top job of Secretary General. Audio

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

7:57 AM.Locals of the upper reaches of the Whanganui River are rapt a new bridge is opening that will clear the road into Whanganui in time for Christmas. Audio

7:54 AM.Victims of historical sex abuse want the names on a proposed child sex offender register made public. Audio

7:49 AM.Back now to the fate of legendary rowing coach Dick Tonks. Rowing New Zealand has cancelled its contract with him , effectively firing him for working with a Chinese crew. Audio

7:39 AM.Republican candidates are upbeat about their performances at the last of CNN 's candidate debates yesterday. Audio

7:36 AM.The latest installment, Episode VII : The Force Awakens, opened in cinemas last night to hordes of dressed-up people. Audio

7:25 AM.Listening to that was Act party leader David Seymour, who is Undersecretary to the Minister of Education, with some responsibilities for charter schools. Audio

7:22 AM.The woman who oversaw teaching at a failed Northland charter school had been suspended from working as a teacher for a year before her appointment. Audio

7:17 AM.Legendary rowing coach Dick Tonks' association with New Zealand rowing appears all but over. Audio

7:13 AM.Our correspondent in New York, William Denselow is covering the United Nations. Audio

7:10 AM.In an unprecedented move, the United Nations says women should be strongly encouraged to apply for the top job of Secretary General. Audio

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

6:58 AM.Listed forestry biotechnology company Rubicon says it will appeal a US$53 million ruling in favour of nine former employees of its part-owned seedling company ArborGen. Audio

6:57 AM.American stocks are marking time ahead of the Federal Reserve decision .. but oil prices have fallen again and that's putting pressure on energy stocks Audio

6:55 AM.A group representing the oil and gas exploration industry says it will come through the current tough times it's currently going through. Audio

6:53 AM.The retail sector is expected to find the going a bit tougher next year as spending slows in line with lower growth and increasing competition will make it more difficult to turn a profit. Audio

6:52 AM.The dairy co-operative, Fonterra, is narrowing its manufacturing focus in Australia. Audio

6:51 AM.The fish company, Sanford, says the increased focus on the production of fresh fish has found a strong local demand. Audio

6:43 AM.The Christchurch Art Gallery will finally reopen on Saturday almost five years after it was shut because of earthquake damage. Audio

6:39 AM.A failed Northland charter school the Government now wants to close, employed and then promoted a teacher who'd just been suspended for a year. Audio

6:26 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:20 AM.Our business editor, Gyles Beckford, is in now with what's happening in the financial world, just hours away from a big decision at the Federal Reserve. Audio

6:16 AM.Questions remain over the Papua New Guinea government's commitment to ending illegal logging despite issuing a stop work order against small illegal logging operations in Oro province. Audio

6:13 AM.Rowing New Zealand will today again try to hammer out a deal which will see Dick Tonks continuing to work with Olympic men's single scull champion Mahe Drysdale. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Will Helen Clark go for the top job at the UN? Why has Dick Tonks walked away from NZ Rowing? What went wrong at a failed Northland charter school? Audio