Morning Report for Monday 23 January 2012

8:56 AM.The Australian Prime Minister's fragile minority government has lost the support of an independent MP, leaving her in control by the narrowest of margins. Audio

8:52 AM.About 12,000 competitors and spectators turned up for the inaugural New Zealand Sand Castle Competition held on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch. Audio

8:49 AM.A bulletin from Radio New Zealand's Maori News Unit. Audio

8:47 AM.Protesters' tents are being removed from an Occupy Auckland protest site. Audio

8:41 AM.A Gisborne District Councillor says East Coast councils are running the risk of being seen to be in the pocket of a Canadian oil company. Audio

8:40 AM.Opposition against Solid Energy's two billion dollar plans to mine Southland lignite is growing. More than a hundred people spent the weekend in Mataura protesting about the proposed large scale open… Read more Audio

8:34 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.Dave Worsley looks ahead to another day of tennis. Audio

8:22 AM.People in the South Island could be forgiven for being confused over what season it was after a southerly brought snow to the Southern Alps and through Porters Pass. Audio

8:17 AM.The economy faces another tough year with potential disaster in Europe still to navigate and lacklustre demand locally. The Prime Minister John Key says he is optimistic about New Zealand's prospects… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, is calling for an immediate inquiry into how a German citizen with convictions got residency in the country. Audio

7:57 AM.A New Zealand-born teenager, Laura Dekker, has broken the world record to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe alone. Audio

7:54 AM.The head of the New Zealand Kennel Club says people must remember that all dogs have the potential to bite, after the third dog attack on a child in less than a week. Audio

7:51 AM.Reports that the police shot a drunk South Auckland man in the leg three times, including twice as he limped away are raising questions about giving the police improved access to weaponry. Audio

7:48 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:43 AM.The Australian Prime Minister's fragile minority government has lost the support of an independent MP. Juliet Gillard's majority is now just one. Audio

7:40 AM.After riding into South Carolina on a wave of seeming inevitability, the former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney finished in a disappointing second-place in the state's high-stakes primary. Audio

7:29 AM.A 13th body has been recovered from the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship. At least 20 people are still missing in the ship which capsized after hitting rocks off the Italian coast 9 days ago. Audio

7:25 AM.The German internet tycoon, Kim Dotcom begins his defence against extradition to the United States today. Audio

7:20 AM.Political Editor Brent Edwards talks about the upcoming political year. Audio

7:14 AM.Labour's new leader says his party's fiscal economic policy will be partially driven by public opinon. Labour will hold a caucus retreat, to help focus MPs on key issues for 2012 , including policy… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.The Prime Minister says sheltering New Zealand from the impending global economic storm will be a major priority for the year ahead. Audio

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

6:43 AM.Several thousand people attended the Christchurch red-zoned suburb of Brooklands' swan song gala. About five hundred homes have had to be abandoned because of earthquake damage, meaning Brooklands as… Read more Audio

6:35 AM.Major internet companies in the United States are watching for fallout from the arrest of the German internet baron, Kim Dotcom. Audio

6:27 AM.A bulletin from Radio New Zealand's Maori News Unit. Audio

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

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

6:00 AM.Prime Minister details plans for 2012; Labour leader says party needs to listen to public more; Political Editor analysis; Dotcom prepares worldwide defence of online piracy charges; Bodies recovered… Read more Audio