Morning Report for Monday 29 February 2016

8:58 AM.Time to chat to our Melbourne correspondent Phil Kafcaloudes. Audio

8:55 AM.It was a weekend of upsets, and new faces, as last years finalists lost their opening games, and three new teams joined the competition. Audio

8:52 AM.February the 29th: the day, in leap year terminology, for the leapers or leaplings, to celebrate a birthday which comes around once every four years. Audio

8:48 AM.The Coatesville mansion which was home to Kim Dotcom and before that was known as the Chrisco mansion is up for sale. Audio

8:44 AM.Dunedin's mayor is defending a group set up last year to improve anti-social behaviour in the city's student area, saying there's zero tolerance of bad behaviour. Audio

8:42 AM.The Maori Affairs Minister Te Ururoa Flavell joins Morning Report. Audio

8:36 AM.The government has wrapped up a consultation process over a proposed law, which is aimed at giving Maori more say over what to do with their communally-owned land. Audio

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

8:27 AM.The daughter of a former New Zealand Army Reserve who has been detained in an Australian prison without charge for four months, says he will keep fighting his deportation. Audio

8:24 AM.The Academy Awards get underway in Hollywood this afternoon and the nominees, including New Zealand producer Finola Dwyer, will soon find out if they'll be bringing home an Oscar. Correspondent Brad… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.The very latest sports news with RNZ sports reporter Matt Chatterton. Audio

8:18 AM.The Act Party is calling on the Government to sell farms run by Landcorp and use the money for a network of native wildlife sanctuaries. David Seymour joins Morning Report. Audio

8:16 AM.The ceasefire in Syria is holding after a weekend of minor violations. The deal, which was struck by the United States, Russia and other world super powers, came into force midnight Friday local time… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.The navy ship, the Wellington, has arrived in Fiji with 150 defence force personnel to help with the Cyclone Winston relief effort and the frigate Canterbury is now also now on its way. Major General… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.As we reported earlier a liquor store owner in Auckland was stabbed last night outside his shop. Reporter Kim Baker Wilson is outside the store in Manurewa. Audio

8:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:56 AM.Standing Room Only host Lynn Freeman has been reviewing the Festival for RNZ National. Audio

7:52 AM.As the Republican primary contest heads towards Super Tuesday, the big question is: can anyone derail the Donald Trump train? Josh Gerstein is a senior White House reporter for Politico in Washington.

7:44 AM.A fire has burnt a hotel in the Taranaki town of Manaia to the ground. Our reporter Adriana Weber has the latest.. Audio

7:42 AM.The Labour Party says almost 60-thousand dollars in bonuses were paid to four charter schools last year even though three of them underperformed. Chris Hipkins is Labour's education spokesperson. Audio

7:37 AM.RNZ International's Alex Perrottet is in Suva after a day in the outer island of Taveuni. Audio

7:29 AM.Housing New Zealand is blocking their tenants from serving home home detention or being bailed to state houses according to lawyers who are also criticising the Police and Corrections. Audio

7:23 AM.The Oscars are handed out in Hollywood this afternoon and among those in the running for the Best Picture award is New Zealand producer, Finola Dwyer. Audio

7:18 AM.The Prime Minister John Key says this flag referendum will be the last chance the country has to change the flag unless New Zealand becomes a republic. Audio

7:14 AM.HM NZS Canterbury has left Auckland for Suva, carrying 300 defence force personnel, including engineers and medics. Mohamed Hassan was there when the Canterbury left. Audio

7:10 AM.People in Christchurch have described being jolted awake by a strong shallow earthquake early this morning. GeoNet says the 4.3 magnitude quake was centered 5 kilometres south of the city, at a depth… Read more Audio

7:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:59 AM.Wall Street ended the week flat following official data which revealed the US economy expanded at a higher 1% annual rate in the fourth quarter. Audio

6:58 AM.A look ahead at this weeks business agenda. Audio

6:57 AM.The latest business news from Australia with our correspondent Jim Parker. Audio

6:55 AM.The tapware maker, Methven, says a lower New Zealand dollar is a key headwind. Audio

6:54 AM.The pay television operator, Sky Network Television, is weighing up a return of cash to shareholders versus acquistions that could help drive-up its bottomline. Audio

6:52 AM.The listed wine company, Delegat Group, says the North American wine market offers great potential for growth, not just for its premium wines -- but the rest of the New Zealand industry as well. Audio

6:50 AM.The Financial Markets Authority has turned its sights on the funds management sector, which will have to be licenced by the start of December. Audio

6:46 AM.More women candidates than ever before are standing in the Samoan general election. Changes to electoral laws are thought to be behind what's being desribed as a big change of mood in the lead up to… Read more Audio

6:41 AM.The Act Party leader David Seymour is calling for the Government to sell off its poorly performing farms and use the money to fund a network of native wildlife sanctuaries around the country. Audio

6:39 AM.People in Christchurch have described being jolted awake by a strong earthquake early this morning. GeoNet says the 4.3 magnitude quake about half past 3 was centered 5 kilometres south of the city… Read more Audio

6:25 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:22 AM.Jonathan Mitchell with the latest from business sector. Audio

6:12 AM.Hillary Clinton has won a decisive victory in South Carolina, reinvigorating her campaign and re-establishing herself as the leading contender for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Our… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.A liquor store owner in Auckland is recovering in hospital after being stabbed outside his shop last night. Audio

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

6:00 AM.John Key says last chance to change flag before republic, Lifting the lid on domestic violence in rural communities, Liquor store owner in hospital stabbed outside his shop, Syrian ceasefire holds… Read more Audio