Morning Report for Tuesday 28 February 2012

8:56 AM.New authors and illustrators appear as finalists in every category of the 2012 Children's Book Awards. 21 books have been shortlisted for the awards from a pool of more than 130 entries. Audio

8:52 AM.Bret McKenzie an Oscar for best original song for the tune Man or Muppet in The Muppets film. Audio

8:48 AM.Some Christchurch residents say the Christchurch City Council has been too slow to resolve the threat of rock fall to their homes, and they now hope the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.A spokesperson for King Country Maori protesting about the sale of the Crafar dairy farms, says they've been handed a trespass notice, and will leave peacefully if the police come to arrest them… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Maritime Union says it's gathering overseas support for its dispute with Ports of Auckland. The port is considering legal action, after a shipping company reported being threatened by a union… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.The High Court has backed the decision by the Electricity Authority to intervene in the wholesale electricity market and cut prices, after they spiked to more than 200 times normal levels. 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

8:26 AM.A male doll that can be choked as a punishment has outraged a men's group, which say the doll trivalises domestic violence. Audio

8:23 AM.The Christchurch City Council has admitted it failed to provide a second line of defence in checks on a building that killed a woman during last February's earthquake. Audio

8:20 AM.The European Union has imposed further sanctions on Syria over the government's attacks on opposition supporters. Audio

8:14 AM.After more than one hundred years of operation, the Otago Rugby Union will ask the High Court to place it in liquidation this week, leaving 180 trade creditors, the Dunedin City Council and the BNZ… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.Lobby groups against poverty say the latest slew of changes to welfare undermine beneficiary parents and penalise their children. The Government has announced the first stage of welfare changes that… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.The company behind the Yellow Pages is slashing 125 jobs, mainly sales positions, at the business directory. The Yellow Pages Group, which is owned by a consortium of banks, says the cuts - which… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.China is now New Zealand's number one source of imports. In the past year the rising world power has overtaken Australia as this country's key source of goods and services. Audio

7:44 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:40 AM.An employment law specialist says Ports of Auckland may have a case if it decides to sue the Maritime Union. The port is considering legal action, after a shipping company claimed a union member had… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Bret McKenzie has won an OSCAR for a song made for The Muppets. His father Peter couldn't be prouder. Audio

7:29 AM.The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard's decisive win in the leadership ballot has not put an end to the political drama across the Tasman, with the assistant treasurer Mark Arbib unexpectedly… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.After 131 years, Otago's Rugby Union is just days away from being wound up, owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than a hundred tradespeople, and the BNZ. Audio

7:14 AM.The government's being accused of forcing people off of welfare when there are no jobs for them to go to. Legislation containing the first stage of the Government's changes to the welfare system will… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.An Italian Cruise ship, owned by the same company as the Costa Concordia, is adrift in the Indian ocean after a fire broke out on board. Audio

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

6:43 AM.The Australian Prime Minister and the man she's defeated in Labor's leadership ballot, Kevin Rudd, have both called for her Labor Party to unite. Audio

6:42 AM.Otago's rugby union has confirmed it will seek liquidation. The board its facing mounting debts and stopped trading in December. Audio

6:38 AM.Opposition parties say the Government is trying to push people off welfare at a time when there are no jobs. Legislation containing the first stage of the Government's changes to the welfare system… Read more Audio

6:27 AM.A spokesperson for King Country Maori protesting about the sale of the Crafar dairy farms, says they've been handed a trespass notice, and will leave peacefully if the police come to arrest them… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

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

6:13 AM.A beneficiaries advocacy group says the lastest welfare changes announced by the Government are an attack on young people and sole parents. Audio

6:00 AM.Italian cruise ship adrift in Indian Ocean after fire; Mana says welfare reform pushes poor from bad to worse; EU imposes further sanctions as violence continues in Syria; Christchurch council admits… Read more Audio