Summer Report for Tuesday 31 December 2013

8:53 AM.As she takes a break from a hectic time of book promotions, events and media interviews - she's been listening to music - and one song in particular. Audio

8:48 AM.For more than three decades, children , parents and grand-parents in Whangarei have been learning to play orchestral music together - through an organisation that's thought to be unique in New… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.One of New Zealand's most beautiful lizards may be on the comeback after years of pest attack and international poaching. Audio

8:37 AM.House prices have been climbing this year, particularly in the Auckland market where the median price keeps surging. Audio

8:30 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:21 AM.Staying with the New Years honours, and Film-maker Geoff Murphy has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to film. Audio

8:16 AM.The New Years Honours list out this morning has four new Knights and two Dames. Audio

8:09 AM.Mental health advocates are concerned about the growing number of paitents recieving electro-convulsive therapy without giving consent. Audio

7:51 AM.Lynn Freeman continues her series on Stewart Island/Rakiura, this time joining DoC trappers, Josephine Sheppard Anthony Hobern as they headed out by boat to the trap site. Audio

7:48 AM.The Chatham Islands have no cellphone network, but 2014 could be the year when it's green lit. Audio

7:45 AM.More than 25 people are dead after two separate bomb blasts in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. Audio

7:38 AM.For her services to fashion and the community Trelise Cooper has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Audio

7:34 AM.A survey of Emergency Departments across New Zealand and Australia has found that almost 20 percent of people were there because of harmful drinking. Audio

7:32 AM.Let's find out what;s in store with the weather - with Dan Corbett from the Met Service. Audio

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

7:21 AM.More than 25 people are dead after two separate bomb blasts in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. Audio

7:17 AM.The former world racing champion Michael Schumacher is in a critical condition in a French hospital. Audio

7:13 AM.Two dames and four knights top the New Year's honours list, announced this morning. Audio

7:09 AM.Mental health groups want the use of the controversial electro-convulsive therapy, without the consent of patients, banned. Audio