Morning Report for Thursday 28 April 2016

8:54 AM.Leading Auckland mayoral candidates have insisted they are politically independent, even though one's a Labour MP, one ran for National and another has joined forces with a centre-right group. Audio

8:51 AM.It's not just those living in Auckland who are finding their house prices and rents are spiralling out of their control. Audio

8:47 AM.A new company, The Ownery, is promising to give Aucklanders a slice of the real estate pie for as little as $500. Audio

8:42 AM.The public and animal lovers have fired their opening shots at the first meeting on the Government's proposed changes to animal welfare laws. Audio

8:38 AM.Virgin Australia says it hopes to resume flights to Vanuatu next month, but Air New Zealand is refusing to say why it won't do the same Audio

8:36 AM.Papua New Guinea's government says it will shut the Australian-run refugee centre on Manus Island. Audio

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

8:25 AM.Martin Aircraft is denying Chinese media reports that production of its groundbreaking jetpack is moving to China. Audio

8:21 AM.The SouthYorkshire police chief has been suspended over the department's response to the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989 which killed ninety six people Audio

8:17 AM.The dairy industry its cleaning up its dirty ways - but some regions seem to be doing better than others. Audio

8:10 AM.As the Reserve Bank reviews the official cash rate this morning, this week's headlines have focused on Auckland's property values. Audio

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

7:56 AM.Donald Trump has shed light on his vision for the United States' foreign policy, calling the Obama administration's policy a complete and utter disaster. Audio

7:51 AM.The controversial Ruataniwha dam looks likely to go ahead as enough farmers have now signed up to the proposal. Audio

7:48 AM.The country's first ban on winter trout fishing is takes effect in North Canterbury on Saturday. Audio

7:42 AM.Most economists are tipping the Reserve Bank will leave the cost of borrowing unchanged at a record low 2 point 25 percent this morning. Audio

7:39 AM.An asylum seeker detained by the Australian government on Nauru remains in a critical condition in hospital after he set himself on fire in front of staff from the United Nations. Audio

7:36 AM.The Meatworkers' Union says Affco Talleys is trying to stop its workers talking about the company on Facebook and other social media. Audio

7:28 AM.Auckland is set to join world-class cities like London and Sydney - in parking fees that is. Audio

7:24 AM.Soaring property prices in Auckland and increased borrowing by struggling dairy farmers has been good news for the banks Audio

7:21 AM.New Zealand has recorded its worst trade deficit in 7 years and there are warnings there's even worse to come. Audio

7:17 AM.The number of dairy farmers flouting rules around polluting waterways has dropped to its lowest recorded level. Audio

7:10 AM.The Labour Party says the Mossack Fonseca client who got approval to buy sensitive land in New Zealand is a Panamanian company whose directors are linked to 500 other firms in Panama. Audio

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

6:58 AM.The Mad Butcher owner, Veritas Investments, has seen its share price jump almost 39 percent yesterday, after reporting it's on track to meet its full year profit target. Audio

6:57 AM.Fairly muted response to the Fed statement today. Audio

6:55 AM.Concern about cyber crime is rising markedly with small businesses according to a new survey. Audio

6:54 AM.The listed healthcare investor, Abano Healthcare, looks poised to sell its 50 percent stake in an audiology business for two and a half times what it's valued at and it already has plans for the… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.The U.S. Federal Reserve has held its benchmark interest rate as expected in a statement delivered a short time ago. Audio

6:45 AM.It's looking increasingly like a Trump-Clinton race for the White House. Audio

6:41 AM.The farmers have spoken: build the dam. Audio

6:37 AM.The number of dairy farmers flouting the rules around polluting waterways has dropped to its lowest recorded level in an audited industry survey. Audio

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

6:18 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:15 AM.A key suspect and participant in the Paris terror attacks has been extradited to France after he was arrested last month in Belgium. Audio

6:09 AM.New Zealand has recorded its worst trade deficit in seven years. Audio

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

6:00 AM.The Taranaki farm bought by a Panamanian company with links to Mossack Fonseca is revealed. Fewer dairy farms are flouting pollution rules but lobbyists are still unhappy with farmers in Northland and… Read more Audio