Morning Report for Wednesday 9 November 2011

8:58 AM.An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier is about to - we hope - make a near pass of the Earth. Astronomers have calculated the 400 meter-wide asteroid, called '2005 y-u 55', will come within… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.The country's largest A and P show has opened in Christchurch this morning. Organisers have their fingers crossed it'll be the biggest yet, with pre-ticket sales already up on previous years. The show… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Tertiary Education Commission figures show the Otaki based Te Wananga o Raukawa is the worst of the three Maori universities, for students completing their qualifications; Meanwhile the head of Maori… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Opponents of national standards in reading, writing and maths say they are pleased with growing cross-party support for abolishing or watering down the controversial policy. They say the issue is a… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.The former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, dubbed by Muhammad Ali the greatest boxer in the world -- other than himself -- has died of liver cancer in Philadelphia, aged 67. Audio

8:35 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:25 AM.Auckland has even more volcanoes lying underneath it than the experts thought. New discoveries bring the number of Auckland volcanoes to either 53 or 55, depending on whether you prefer to keep your… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.The Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes has heard evidence questioning the measure used to judge how resistant a building is to earthquake damage. It's come on the second day of hearings… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.There's growing pressure to close the legal loophole that lets commercial operators run heli-hunting tours on heavily protected conservation land. Under the Wild Animal Control Act, heli-hunting is… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Labour Party has accused the government of under funding the health sector and says if it wins the election it will increase spending. In its health policy released today, Labour has outlined its… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is reported to have agreed to step down after budgetary reforms are passed. Italian television is reporting that Mr Berlusconi made the decision after a… Read more Audio

7:58 AM.The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, thinks the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is a liar. The exchange was heard by several journalists, but kept quiet until today, when the comments… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.A Whangarei man who's been filming the pollution of local rivers says he's now planning to put his photographs and videos on-line. Millan Ruka has bought a boat and film gear to patrol rivers he swam… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.The economic policies of the main political parties have been at the centre of debate in this year's election campaign. The politicians have promised their plans will address the economic challenges… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:40 AM.An Auckland academic has been labelled an ignorant Pakeha after he questioned whether the Rugby World Cup meant much to ethnic communities. In an opinion piece published online, Geoff Dickson says he… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is questioning whether hunters should be allowed to shoot animals on Department of Conservation land from helicopters. The Deerstalkers Association… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.In Greece, it's understood the former Greek Central Bank Govenor, Lucas Papademos,will soon be named as the country's new Prime Minister. Mr Papademos is widely tipped as the front runner to take over… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.The Italian prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, may have won a crucial budget vote in parliament, but his future as the nation's leader looks increasingly shaky. The budget package was approved only… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.The deal in Epsom isn't the only arrangement National is involved in. A similar deal is in place in Ohariu in Wellington where the long-serving MP and United Future Party leader, Peter Dunne, faces a… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Epsom voters are being left hanging as the National Party leader, John Key, considers whether to come out and endorse Act candidate John Banks in Epsom. While National's candidate Paul Goldsmith is… Read more Audio

7:08 AM.The Labour Party says health is under-funded and it'll boost money going into the sector if it becomes the government. In its health policy released today, Labour also says it'll spend 10 million… Read more Audio

6:47 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:35 AM.The Labour Party has released its health policy and is promising free after hours doctors visits for children under 6, cheaper dental care and healthy eating programmes in schools. Audio

6:27 AM.Tertiary Education Commission figures show the Otaki based Te Wananga o Raukawa, is the worst of three Maori universities for students completing their qualifications and staying in study; The head of… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:18 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:15 AM.Opponents of the Government's national standards for schools say they're gratified other political parties are either promising to abolish or water down the policy. Audio

6:00 AM.Labour plans to boost health funding if elected;Epsom voters left hanging as Key mulls Act endorsement;Peter Dunne faces tough fight in Ohariu to retain seat;Berlusconi's days as Italian Prime… Read more Audio