Morning Report for Thursday 15 December 2016

6:00 AM.World Vision's response manager for northern Syria, Christine Latif, spoke to us a short time ago from Gaziantep in Turkey, about 100km from Aleppo. St John: Attacks on ambulance officers will not be… Read more Audio

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

6:13 AM.Few bidders are likely in the latest offer of oil exploration permits - a far cry from the glamour of the early days of the government's programme to sell off prospecting rights. Audio

6:16 AM.A wilding tree eradication programme in Southland that was at risk of closing down because of a lack of money has been given a reprieve. Audio

6:20 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:45 AM.St John says its ambulance officers have been subjected to 3000 cases of abuse this year. As Tom Furley this is causing ambulance officers to leave their jobs and puts patients safety at risk. Audio

6:47 AM.The United States Federal Reserve is expected to deliver its first rate rise in a year. Audio

6:48 AM.A recent survey of credit unions and other finance companies has found the sector is facing a tough lending environment, with a growing number of competitors and rapid technology changes. Audio

6:49 AM.Auckland's principal rural fire officer Brian Cartelle says there have been no flare ups overnight at Matakana but he will not be able to declare the fire totally out until thermal imaging of the area… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.Sky Network Television's earnings will take another hit as subscriber numbers continue to fall. Audio

6:50 AM.New Zealand Oil & Gas says there are benefits to it keeping its slice of the offshore Tui oil field. Majority owner and operator Australian WorldWide Exploration has agreed to sell its 57-and-a-half… Read more Audio

6:58 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

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

7:38 AM.Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul has been closed six weeks, ever since a nearby office block sufered extensive earthquake damage. But today, the cathedral will finally reopen and just in time for… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.The lawyer representing journalist Nicky Hager's daughter says a police search of the family's home in the wake of Mr Hager's book Dirty Politics was a fishing trip which was traumatising experience… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.The Navy's HMNZS Wellington makes another call to Kaikoura today to show solidarity and support to the quake-ravaged township. We speak to the ship's Commanding Officer. Audio

7:45 AM.Massey University's Chancellor, Chris Kelly, steps down. "Having had time to carefully consider the views of many staff, students and stakeholders, I believe that it is in the interests of the… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.The Retirement Commissioner is pushing for the age of eligibilty for 67 years over time. And she's using superheroes to get her message across. Audio

7:51 AM.Conservationists say the re-introduction of kokako into the North Taranaki bush is being put in jeopardy by a proposed upgrade to State Highway 3. Audio

7:53 AM.Parliament signs off for the year with a Christmas wish list and a novel carol. Audio

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

8:16 AM.Ali Akil from Syrian Solidarity wants the government to speak up over the atrocities happening in Aleppo. Audio

8:26 AM.Professor Liz Slooten, a dolphin expert at Otago University, says a plan by two fishing companies to protect the Maui dolphins is a publicity stunt. Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:39 AM.Parliament is being told it needs to crack down on $4,000 lunch fees and $19,000 boarding charges at some integrated schools. Audio

8:46 AM.Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released in New Zealand last night. RNZ movie reviewer Sarah McMullan was at the midnight screening. Audio

8:51 AM.Just three percent of career firefighters are female - but the organisation says the proportion of women recruits has jumped from one percent to 17 percent in past three years. Our emergency services… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.The town of Pleasant Point near Timaru is also planning a parade. But they do things a little bit differently - and often not so politically correctly - there. Audio