Morning Report for Monday 25 January 2016

8:56 AM.Time to chat to our Melbourne correspondent Phil Kafcaloudes. Audio

8:54 AM.Two of tennis' most formidable women are set to face-off in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Audio

8:51 AM.A long time friend, and student of Barry Brickell says New Zealand has lost a huge artistic force. Audio

8:46 AM.A fundraising lunch in Wairarapa yesterday wasn't just about the money. January 24th marks the 100th anniversary of the Featherston Military Camp, where thousands of soldiers trained before heading… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.New Zealand and Australian trainers are readying Iraq's soldiers for an assault on the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul. Audio

8:38 AM.A group of Maori and Pacific Island students is calling on universities to do more to break down barriers of discrimination. Audio

8:32 AM.Our business reporter, Jonathan Mitchell, is in now with what's happening in the financial world. Audio

8:29 AM.The planned opening of a twenty two million dollar theatre in Blenheim next month has been put off until March because of building delays. Audio

8:25 AM.Safety has always been at the forefront of everything Swedish-car company Volvo does. Audio

8:22 AM.Talks are underway which could extend the use of coal to generate electricity in New Zealand. Audio

8:18 AM.Whakatane has been trembling, albeit gently, last night as a swarm of light and weak earthquakes struck the area Audio

8:11 AM.Figures out today from the global Demographia survey show that in the past year Auckland has gone from the ninth most unaffordable city in the world to equal fourth most unaffordable. Audio

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

7:55 AM.Kiwi music legends, including Neil Finn and the Topp Twins, have welcomed Syrian refugees to New Zealand at a free concert. Audio

7:52 AM.Organisers of the annual national yearling sales at Karaka today want to top last year's success. Audio

7:49 AM.A tumultuous start to 2016 on world markets has seen global investor confidence tumble. Audio

7:44 AM.Vanuatu's snap election has shown up some surprise results with some long time members of parliament looking to be out of office. Audio

7:40 AM.Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a former mayor of New York, is considering whether to join the race for the White House Audio

7:36 AM.The family of young lifeguard Hamish Rieger who drowned at Mount Maunganui are thankful they have his body back. Audio

7:26 AM.The Department of Conservation is having to recruit more volunteers to cope with a spike of freedom campers littering and defecating on tracks in the South Island. Audio

7:21 AM.John Key has used the weekend's annual Ratana Church celebrations to commit to running as leader for a fourth term. Audio

7:17 AM.Warrick Bell lives on Staten Island in New York. He's also the president of "New Zealanders in New York" club. Audio

7:14 AM.New Yorkers are trying to get back to normal after the second-biggest storm in the city's history. Audio

7:10 AM.The pending signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership dominated the celebrations at Ratana Pa yesterday. Audio

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

6:59 AM.The casinos operator, Sky City Entertainment Group, says its plans for a major expansion of its Adelaide Casino have been approved by South Australia's Development Assessment Commission. Audio

6:58 AM.Wall Street finished up last week as Brent crude rallied, ending the week at 32.18 US dollars a barrel. Audio

6:57 AM.Taking a look at the business agenda for this week. Audio

6:54 AM.And now to our weekly look at business in Australia, with our correspondent Jim Parker. He says consumer sentiment is looking a bit battered amid the recent market turmoil. Audio

6:52 AM.A big accounting change is coming for listed companies, which lease buildings, plant and machinery. Audio

6:50 AM.The Reserve Bank takes its first look of the year at the Official Cash Rate this week. Audio

6:43 AM.Women who were heading to Brazil for the Olympics this August may be reconsidering their plans. Audio

6:39 AM.The Maori Party wants absolute assurance the Treaty of Waitangi will be closely guarded under the Trans-Pacific partnership. Audio

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

6:20 AM.Our business reporter, Jonathan Mitchell, is in now with what's happening in the financial world. Audio

6:17 AM.Reports from Iraq suggest New Zealand-trained Iraqi troops are planning to launch a major offensive against Islamic State to try to reclaim the city of Mosul. Audio

6:09 AM.The east coast of the United States has been battered by a blizzard which shut down the Washington DC and New York. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Maori leaders at Ratana call on the Government to delay signing the TPP. We talk to a New Zealander in New York caught up in one of the biggest snowstorms ever to hit the United States. and Auckland… Read more Audio