Morning Report for Wednesday 25 May 2016

8:57 AM.A Tauranga artist's offer on Facebook to "tattoo" sick children at Starship Hospital has gone viral. Audio

8:54 AM.The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts is underway in Guam with 27 Pacific countries and territories participating. Audio

8:50 AM.The lawyer acting for families of New Zealand and Australian victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over Ukraine is confident he can make Russia pay compensation of 10 million dollars per… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security says there is still plenty of scope for New Zealand's spy agencies to be more open with the public about what they do, in order to boost public trust… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.A helicopter pilot, an off-duty surf life saver and a search and rescue volunteer have been recognised for saving lives during daring feats of rescue. Audio

8:38 AM.Rugby has long been regarded as New Zealand's national game but the sports's leaders fear it could become irrelevant in the country's biggest city. Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:27 AM.There are high hopes in the health sector that wider screening for bowel cancer will get the go-ahead in tomorrow's Budget. Audio

8:23 AM.A major shift is underway for the services responsible for giving budgeting advice to those struggling to make ends meet. Audio

8:17 AM.The Housing Minister Nick Smith has admitted a greater number of building inspections are failing. Audio

8:13 AM.As we heard on Morning Report yesterday Tauranga is booming and house prices are rising. But also rising is the level of homelessness in some parts of the city. Audio

8:11 AM.Greg Skelton Wellington Electricity is on the phone. Audio

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

7:55 AM.The operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant has admitted 600 tonnes of melted reactor fuel is still missing five years on from the disaster. Audio

7:52 AM.New research says Canterbury would suffer severe damage in an Alpine Fault earthquake. Audio

7:46 AM.Budgeting services are facing an uncertain future as the Government prepares a major shake up of the sector. Audio

7:41 AM.For the first time, leading health organisations are recommending gastric bypass surgery as a direct treatment for diabetes in severely obese patients. Audio

7:36 AM.A Nelson woman who racked up almost 150,000 dollars in benefit fraud was this week sentenced to home detention and order to repay $10,000. Audio

7:28 AM.An independent study published yesterday found 26 new hotels, with 4500 beds, need to be built in Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown over the next decade. Audio

7:26 AM.The Social Development Minister says entire motels could be leased to help those in need of emergency housing in Auckland. Audio

7:11 AM.Home ownership rates in Auckland are falling dramatically as investors make the most of the property boom. Audio

7:11 AM.A short time ago we spoke with Prime Minister John Key and asked him whether rising house prices remain a priority for the government. Audio

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

6:58 AM.The Taranaki-based, but Australian owned, power and gas distributor PowerCo has reported a slightly reduced full-year profit. Audio

6:57 AM.Wall Street up strongly today -- tech and financial stocks higher -- on bets of an interest rate rise in the United States next month. Audio

6:55 AM.The cinema software company, Vista Group, says the new distribution business it's establishing with China's WePiao is more than just a one-way opportunity to sell software in China. Audio

6:52 AM.Shares in insurance company Tower took a hefty hit yesterday -- falling 12 percent to a near three-month low. Audio

6:50 AM.Booming tourism is behind a government plan to boost investment in hotels, but there's doubt if it will help in the short-term. Audio

6:45 AM.New Zealand Rugby has made Auckland a key priority in its five year plan as statistics reveal less than three percent of its population play rugby. Audio

6:43 AM.New research shows that if a major earthquake ruptures the Alpine Fault Christchurch is likely to suffer more intense damage than some areas closer to the fault. Audio

6:38 AM.Homeownership rates have fallen in more than 80-percent of the suburbs around Auckland. Audio

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

6:19 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:16 AM.A medical specialist says more information about quality standards is needed before more screening for bowel cancer gets under way. Audio

6:13 AM.Tourism leaders say the Government may have to step up its role in hotel developments to entice more investors. Audio

6:09 AM.Google's headquarters in Paris have been raided by French officials as part of an investigation into tax fraud. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Figures released by Labour shed light on how much home ownership rates have fallen in Auckland. 24 hours out from Budget 2016 we ask John Key just what's in store for those in need of emergency… Read more Audio