Summer Report for Wednesday 28 December 2011

8:56 AM.A push is continuing to posthumously honour a man whose heroics are said to have saved Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Audio

8:48 AM.Dogs are being trained to stay away from kiwi in an effort to help the endangered native species survive in the wild. Audio

8:37 AM.With the silencing of the Cathedral bells in Christchurch following February's earthquake there are now just six places in New Zealand where a full set of bells can be rung. Audio

8:35 AM.Let's get a report now on surfing conditions - joining us is our reporter Nick Butcher. Audio

8:32 AM.We are joined by Pam Jones, the chief reporter at the Lakes District and Central Otago News. Audio

8:28 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:26 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:23 AM.Boxing Day spending using credit and eftpos cards is up by nearly seven percent on the same day last year. Audio

8:21 AM.Joining us is the Met Service's forecaster, Paul Mallinson. Audio

8:17 AM.The Metservice has issued a severe weather watch, warning of heavy rain for Northern and Central parts of the country. Audio

8:14 AM.A study of the genetic make up of the kiwifruit vine killing disease PSA has found it almost certainly came to New Zealand from China. Audio

8:09 AM.In Syria, Arab League observers have been met by tens of thousands of anti-government protestors in the city of Homs. Audio

7:57 AM.It's a New Zealand tradition to spend part of the summer fixing up the house. Audio

7:46 AM.Martin Bosley wanted to be a chef from the age of nine and his food philosophy is to eat what's in season and what's local. Audio

7:43 AM.The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, has left hospital following treatment for a blocked coronary artery. Audio

7:39 AM.An Auckland academic says the term "Maori child Abuse" should be cast out of the vernacular. Audio

7:35 AM.The Russian fishing vessel stranded near the Antarctic ice shelf is expected to be escorted out into the open sea later today. Audio

7:27 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:22 AM.North Korea is preparing a huge ceremonial farewell today for its leader Kim Jong-Il who died of a heart attack eleven days ago. Audio

7:20 AM.And joining us is Nelson's mayor, Aldo Miccio. Audio

7:17 AM.Wet weather is on the way, bringing heavy rain to holiday hotspots including already-drenched Nelson. Audio

7:14 AM.A man who fatally bashed a sleeping boy, believing voices had told him to kill a Pakeha, is out of jail for a second time. Audio

7:10 AM.Child, Youth and Family has paid out more than a million dollars in compensation over the past two years, for failing those in its care. Audio