Morning Report

A plan to get tough on asylum seekers and people smugglers has been branded a heavy-handed approach to a non-existent problem by a refugee who made it to New Zealand in 2006. Audio

Labour: PM's acting inappropriately over Banks investigation; Winston Peters discusses John Banks' donations; Couple accused of second biggest fraud of MSD; At least 35 dead after ferry capsizes in… Read more Audio

The Gillard govt is in serious numbers trouble. Embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson has announced he will leave the party and sit on the crossbenches as an independent. Audio

The mayor of Invercargill, Tim Shadbolt, has broken the world record for the longest television interview. Mr Shadbolt and the interviewer, Tom Conroy, spent 26 hours on the freeview channel, CUE TV -… Read more Audio

The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, is being accused of choosing her job over her identity - by directing a Far North school to close its senior classes; New Zealand Maori Hockey's bid to become… Read more Audio

The funeral for the former All Black player and coach, Sir Fred Allen, will be held at midday this Wednesday in a 700-seater hall at Auckland's Eden Park. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

The Anglican Church has elected a new Bishop of Wellington - a dreadlocked, often barefooted man who's promising to bring change to the institution. Audio

The second hunting death in a month has prompted calls for urgent action to prevent more people being hurt or killed. A man died instantly when he was shot while out hunting deer with four companions… Read more Audio

The Australian Government is on shaky ground after the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, asked the Labor MP, Craig Thomson, to quit the party. Audio

Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago on the legal situation regarding John Banks' donations. Audio