Morning Report

A New Zealand artist who friends feared had been killed while fighting alongside rebel forces in Syria is alive and well in California. Audio

The Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says comments from the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe that he wants to see commercial whaling resumed are "unfortunate and unhelpful". Audio

Primary school teachers and principals have united in opposition to the government's flagship education policy, saying it is unacceptable and unworkable. Audio

A 13 year old boy will appear in court this morning, less than two hundred metres away from where he's accused of murdering a west Auckland dairy owner. Audio

Down south, Civil Defence teams are meeting first thing this morning to assess the ongoing flood situation around north Canterbury. Audio

There are problems elsewhere too in the Coromandel with emergency services working to rescue a foundering commercial fishing vessel. Audio

Auckland's Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley, updates the situation. Audio

More than 55 thousand homes remain without power in the upper North Island this morning after violent wind gusts wreaked havoc overnight. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

A look at the markets. Audio

Economic growth is likely to reach an annual pace of about 4 percent and then pull back somewhat but will still remain strong. Audio

New Zealand Oil and Gas has lost about 2.5 million US dollars as a result of a failed well off the coast of Taranaki. Audio