Morning Report for Wednesday 7 February 2018

6:00 AM.Stock market chaos expected to spill into NZ, Finance Minister Grant Robertson on global market dive, Taiwan earthquake: Buildings collapsed, casualties expected, Toxic foam: NZers must protect… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.A update from the team at RNZ sport. Audio

6:09 AM.The US stock markets have gyrating wildly today amid frantic trading on Wall Street. After opening down about 2 percent, shares rose briefly into positive territory before sinking again. The volatile… Read more Audio

6:15 AM.A magnitude-6.4 earthquake has rocked Taiwan's east coast, following a 'swarm' of 19 earthquakes over the past 48 hours. The US Geological Survey says it hit at a depth of 9.5km. There are reports of… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.An Australian firefighter with toxic foam chemicals in his blood says people in New Zealand living on contaminated sites near air force bases need to be properly tested. Toxic firefighting foam was… Read more Audio

6:17 AM.As usual the focus on Waitangi Day was on Waitangi in the Far North, but events were held throughout New Zealand to mark the country's national day. In Auckland there were three main events at Hayman… Read more Audio

6:35 AM.European shares hit their lowest level in six months today, following Wall Street's biggest one-day fall in six years. Markets editor for the Financial Times Michael Mackenzie joins Guyon Espiner with… Read more Audio

6:36 AM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked those at Waitangi to hold her to account, and already the Opposition is promising to do so. Ms Ardern wound up her five-day-visit to Northland on Tuesday, after… Read more Audio

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

7:10 AM.The wild swing in world stock markets has continued overnight. Wall St has been on a rollercoaster ride, attempting a fight back after suffering its biggest one-day fall since 2011. But the European… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.Lawyers for President Donald Trump are discouraging him from participating in a wide-ranging interview with special counsel Robert Mueller. This is at odds with comments made by President Trump last… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Mining industry body Straterra is concerned Land Information minister Eugenie Sage has set a precedent by blocking a mining company from buying land on the West Coast. Bathurst Resources owns the… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.Forty thousand people battled the scorching heat in Waitangi yesterday to make it to one of the biggest and busiest Waitangi Day commemorations ever. Carparks were overflowing and many market stalls… Read more Audio

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

8:10 AM.Rescuers are freeing people from trapped buildings in the eastern Taiwanese city of Hualien, following a serious 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday morning (NZ time). A number of buildings have… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.An environmental group is lobbying for free blood tests for people possibly affected by chemicals found in firefighting foam used at Ohakea and Sanson airbases. Free tests are available but only for… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.There are renewed calls for the fitness industry to be regulated after the number of ACC gym related claims rose again last year. Nearly 53,000 claims were made last year, more than double the amount… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.Next week will mark one year since Christchurch's devastating Port Hills Fires began. The two suspicious blazes broke out on several kilometres apart on February 13 and burned uncontrolled for more… Read more Audio