Morning Report for Tuesday 24 January 2012

8:55 AM.All over the world, people have been celebrating the first day of the Chinese New Year, This year is not just the year of the dragon but the year of the water dragon. Audio

8:52 AM.Is there a posh way to divorce? - Apparently there is. Audio

8:49 AM.An American study which suggests homeless people should be allowed to drink alcohol in night shelters is fuelling calls to establish wet houses in New Zealand. Audio

8:45 AM.A senior member of the Ratana Church, says organisers of the annual festivities at the Ratana Pa near Whanganui, are preparing for a busy day today; A forestry organisation wants Maori Trusts to be… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs plans to set up a new caucus committee to promote Pacific issues on to the government agenda. 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.The Australian tennis player, Lleyton Hewitt, made the world number one, Novak Djokovic, work for his quarter-final berth at the Australian open overnight. Audio

8:21 AM.Doctors say a government decision to allow more chemists to give the flu vaccine could lead to fragmented care. Audio

8:17 AM.A commentator on Maori politics, Rawiri Taonui, says today's annual political pilgrimage to the Ratana Church is especially important for the Labour Party and its new leader, David Shearer. Audio

8:13 AM.The founder of the file-sharing website MegaUpload, Kim Dotcom, could be freed on bail later today. Audio

8:09 AM.The number of family lawyers offering their services to legal aid clients has fallen by nearly a half since the Ministry of Justice released new fixed fee rates at the end of last year. Audio

7:57 AM.Department of Conservation rangers are fighting to save a large number of whales that stranded on Farewell Spit in Golden Bay yesterday. Audio

7:54 AM.Two more bodies have been found on the capsized cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, taking the total number of bodies to 15. Audio

7:50 AM.Floodwaters are continuing to rise in parts of Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu, which is being lashed by torrential rain and strong winds. Audio

7:47 AM.More chemists are expected to take on the job of delivering flu jabs this year. Audio

7:43 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:39 AM.A meeting today between the Ratana Church leadership and the new Labour leader, David Shearer, is expected to be crucial in reaffirming the church's traditional support for the party. Audio

7:36 AM.Almost two and a half thousand tonnes of waste has been collected since the container ship, the Rena, ran aground off the Bay of Plenty. Audio

7:29 AM.An Auckland lawyer who specialises in internet law says it could take years for there to be an outcome to the legal action against Kim Dotcom. Audio

7:26 AM.The multi-millionaire German at the centre of a global internet piracy case could learn today if he will be freed on bail. Audio

7:22 AM.Our reporter Briony Sowden is in Aotea Square. Audio

7:16 AM.Protestors occupying Aotea Square in Auckland say a council crackdown on the campsite yesterday has breathed new life into the movement. Audio

7:12 AM.The Law Society president, Jonathan Temm, has been listening to that and joins us now. Audio

7:09 AM.The number of family lawyers offering their services to legal aid clients has fallen by nearly a half since the Ministry of Justice released new fixed fee rates at the end of last year. Audio

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

6:37 AM.The lawyer representing the multi-millionaire German at the centre of a global internet piracy case is hoping for a swift decision on his client's bail application. Audio

6:35 AM.The head of the family law section of the Law Society says it's no surprise many lawyers don't want to take on legal aid clients. Audio

6:27 AM.The most northern iwi in New Zealand intends the purchase of a block of land north of Kaitaia which includes an avocado orchard, to be the first in a series of moves in rebuilding its economic base… Read more Audio

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

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

6:13 AM.The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has tried to determine exactly who should have put a cordon around a central Christchurch building identified as an earthquake risk. Audio

6:00 AM.Legal aid changes slash number of lawyers willing to do work, Law Society president blasts legal aid changes, Council crackdown fails to deter occupiers in Auckland, Reporter in Aotea Square, Bail… Read more Audio