Morning Report for Wednesday 28 March 2018

6:00 AM.Ardern stands by Broadcasting Minister after RNZ meeting, Broadcasting Minister's meeting with Hirschfeld - analysis, Curran, Hirschfeld meeting: Melissa Lee reacts, 'A lot of problems' in Middlemore… Read more Audio

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

6:39 AM.The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is backing her Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran in the wake of the resignation of senior RNZ news executive Carol Hirschfeld. Ms Hirschfeld stepped down yesterday… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.In a close call - one the pilots' association says could have been catastrophic - a drone was flown within 5-metres of an Air New Zealand international flight coming in to land at Auckland airport… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.The whistleblower for data mining company Cambridge Analytica has made some astonishing claims while giving evidence to a British parliamentary committee. Christopher Wylie says he helped develop an… Read more Audio

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

7:10 AM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is standing by her Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran in the wake of the resignation of senior RNZ news executive Carol Hirschfeld. Ms Hirschfeld stepped down on Tuesday… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran has remained in her role in the wake of the resignation of senior RNZ news executive Carol Hirschfeld. Ms Hirschfeld stepped down on Tuesday after misleading RNZ's… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.National's spokesperson for Broadcasting and Communications Melissa Lee was the first to make public the meeting between Clare Curran and Carol Hirschfeld. She discusses the issue with Guyon Espiner. Audio

7:25 AM.The building at Middlemore Hospital that houses the country's largest maternity service might have to be knocked down because it is unstable and riddled with asbestos. The hospital says it's getting… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.James Sutherland, the chief executive of Australian Cricket, says significant sanctions will be taken against Captain Steve Smith and Vice Captain David Warner and ball tamperer Cameron Bancroft… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.Air New Zealand wants prison sentences for drone pilots involved in life-threatening near misses with aircraft. The call comes after a drone came within five metres of an Air New Zealand international… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's statement that New Zealand is not home to any Russian spies is being met with scepticism - and scoffing - internationally. The Guardian's headline reads: 'New Zealand… Read more Audio

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

8:20 AM.The Auckland councillor representing the Manukau ward, Efeso Collins, says the community's families have lost faith in the way Middlemore hospital is being run. The building that houses the maternity… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.It's emerged the former Russian spy who claims he was targetted by a KGB assassin in Auckland a decade ago was also involved in a scuffle with a New Zealand police surveillance officer he mistook for… Read more Audio

8:30 AM.The countdown continues for the New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker's world heavyweight title unification bout against British superstar Anthony Joshua. Just four days out from the bout which will take… Read more Audio

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

8:40 AM.The Auckland venue for New Zealand's Americas Cup defence was agreed this week and will go to Auckland Council for sign off tomorrow. Yesterday, when I spoke to the Economic Development Minister David… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Two groups who claim they were spied on by security firm Thompson and Clark are welcoming the expansion of an inquiry, covering not one but two government agencies. Earlier this month the State… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.Locals in the Far North hope the road connecting them to Kaitaia will be passable by midday on Thursday. The washout caused a 20-metre wide hole in the road disrupting travellers who want to go North… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.Young people are still learning about money from mum and dad. That's one of the takeaways from the Westpac-Massey Financial Education centre's 20-year longitudinal survey, which tracks a number of New… Read more Audio

8:57 AM.Senior National MP Steven Joyce signed off at Parliament last night, recounting some of the highs and lows of his political career in his valedictory speech Audio