Morning Report for Wednesday 29 February 2012

8:57 AM.Swedish researchers have found that divorce could be in a woman's genes. A team of researchers from Stockholm's Karolinska Institute say they have identified a female gene that effects how women… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.After millions of years buried in a hillside, then decades gathering dust in geological displays, the fossilised bones of a giant penguin have been pieced together to reveal a goliath of the bird… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Ngai Tahu is calling to be part of the environmental agency that's due to police New Zealand waters up to 200 nautical miles out from the coastline; The Ministry of Science and Innovation says it's… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.The Republican primary elections are underway in two key states - Michigan and Arizona. Mitt Romney appeared to be in real trouble in those states, but polls now show it's likely to be a tight race. Audio

8:38 AM.The man credited with saving the Welsh Rugby Union from financial collapse has thrown his hat in the ring to rescue the Otago Rugby Union from folding. Audio

8:34 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:28 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:25 AM.A consortium of international conservation groups, including the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace and Forest and Bird, has met in Wellington to launch a campaign to create the world's largest marine… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.Resistance from the powerful American dairy lobby to its domestic milk market being opened up to competition from New Zealand exports in a regional free trade deal is starting to crack. Audio

8:18 AM.Millions of dollars of New Zealand aid money is being spent underwriting Air New Zealand flights to the Pacific Islands. But it is not enough, as Pacific nations have to come up with millions more to… Read more Audio

8:13 AM.The Italian cruise ship left adrift with more than a thousand people on board after a power failure now faces a longer journey before reaching land. Audio

8:09 AM.The meat processing company, Affco, has locked out about 760 of its employees in a dispute over a new employment contract. Audio

7:56 AM.The World Championship of Shearing starts today in Masterton along side New Zealand's premier shearing event, the Golden Shears. More than six hundred competitors from 25 countries are in Wairarapa… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.The Republican primary elections is underway in two key states - Michigan and Arizona. Michigan is considered home territory for one of the Presidential candidates, Mitt Romney, but he's only caught… Read more Audio

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

7:36 AM.A return to amateur rugby seems a far fetched idea for a country which boasts the best team in the world, but New Zealand's domestic competition faces that threat as provincial unions continue to… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.A return to amateur rugby seems a far fetched idea for a country which boasts the best team in the world, but New Zealand's domestic competition faces that threat as provincial unions continue to… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.A man who kidnapped, drugged and killed his estranged wife, and tried to do the same to her best friend, is understood to be leaving prison. Audio

7:22 AM.Teachers and principals groups say they are shocked that a convicted sex offender cheated the system and got work as a teacher. Audio

7:17 AM.The maritime union is furious the Ports of Auckland has started advertising dockworkers' jobs in Australia. Ports of Auckland has confirmed the advertisments have been placed but it says it thought… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.More than seven hundred meat workers have been locked out of their workplaces. The meat processing company, Affco, confirmed the indefinite lockout after mediation over a new employment contract broke… Read more Audio

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

6:41 AM.Legislation making the strip-searching and drug-testing of prisoners more effective has passed its first reading in Parliament. But opposition parties say the bill reduces inmates' basic rights and… Read more Audio

6:38 AM.Teachers and principals groups say they are shocked that a convicted sex offender was able to dodge checks designed to keep such people out of classrooms. Audio

6:27 AM.The Ministry of Science and Innovation says it's delighted by the calibre of young Maori - who're coming up with innovative ideas and forming companies; Ngai Tahu is calling to be part of the… Read more Audio

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

6:19 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:11 AM.The father of a woman murdered by her estranged husband in rural Taranaki sixteen years ago says he accepts the Parole Board's decision to free her killer. Audio

6:00 AM.Meat Workers Union says Affco lockout is unfair; Maritime Union furious at adverts for Australian port workers; Crippled cruise liner faces longer tow to Seychelles; Millions of aid dollars to Pacific… Read more Audio