Morning Report for Wednesday 4 April 2012

8:57 AM.Tim Shadbolt wants to break the Guinness record for the longest television interview and he's set himself the goal of talking for a staggering 26 hours. Audio

8:53 AM.Parliament has voted to fast-track the public consultation period for legislation paving the way for Fonterra's controversial plan to allow farmers to trade shares. Audio

8:50 AM.A social services provider in south Auckland says its work is coming under intense government scrutiny; The Chair of the Waikato-Tainui executive, Tom Roa, says the board's determined to return to… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Christchurch residents face a rates rise of more than seven percent. Audio

8:41 AM.Auckland's first new rail line in 82 years will be opened this morning, bringing commuter trains into Manukau's city centre. Audio

8:38 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:27 AM.And at the Royal Commission yesterday, the Council of Trade Unions called for the charge of corporate manslaughter to be introduced. Audio

8:24 AM.The Council of Trade Unions says the merging of the department responsible for mine safety with three other government ministries is a recipe for disaster. Audio

8:19 AM.The family of a teenage courier driver killed by mistake by armed police plans to sue the officer responsible. Audio

8:15 AM.Oil and debris are expected to wash up on the Coromandel Peninsula today, after more damage to the wreck of the Rena off the Bay of Plenty coast. Audio

8:13 AM.Strong winds and heavy rain are expected to hit much of the upper North Island later this morning, and linger well into the holiday weekend. Audio

8:13 AM.A number of tornadoes have ripped through the Dallas area of Texas in the United States. Audio

7:58 AM.The lawyer for Chris Cairns doesn't expect the former Indian Premier League cricket boss, Lalit Modi, to succeed in his appeal over last month's libel case ruling. Audio

7:57 AM.One of the key figures in the media empire established by Rupert Murdoch - his son, James - has stepped down as chairman of BSkyB - which owns the British television news channel, Sky. Audio

7:53 AM.The gunman who killed seven people and injured another three at a school in the Californian city of Oakland has told police he was seeking revenge for being teased and disrespected. Audio

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

7:42 AM.Opposition MPs say the Accident Compensation Corporation should explain why it has special rules for handling cases involving people it deems to be VIPs. Audio

7:40 AM.The government is refusing to disclose official advice about the proposal to increase the number of pokie machines at Sky City Casino in Auckland as part of a deal to build a new convention centre. Audio

7:29 AM.The Christchurch City Council is proposing a rate increase of more than 7 percent to help cover the rebuild of the city's earthquake damaged infrastructure. Audio

7:21 AM.Richard Neville talks in detail about what happened leading up to the shooting. Audio

7:20 AM.The only bystander ever to have been shot by the Armed Offenders Squad and survived says he's planning to prosecute the officer who pulled the trigger. Audio

7:16 AM.The Defence Force will reveal more details today about the death of a New Zealand soldier in Afghanistan. Audio

7:14 AM.Oil is leaking from the Rena again, and may soon wash up on Coromandel beaches. Audio

7:10 AM.Heavy rain has already started to fall in northern Hawkes Bay, in the start of a weather event which could bring flooding to coastal and riverside towns. Audio

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

6:38 AM.Heavy rain is falling on the east coast of the North Island overnight prompting warnings about rising river levels and flooding. Audio

6:27 AM.The Chair of the Waikato-Tainui executive, Tom Roa, says the board's determined to return to using Maori protocol to sort out tribal scrapping, instead of resorting to legal action; A social services… Read more Audio

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

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

6:11 AM.A man badly injured in an armed offenders squad shooting says the officer who shot him should be held accountable for his actions. Audio

6:00 AM.Hawke's Bay prepares for gales and flooding; Oil from Rena heads toward Coromandel; Defence Force will reveal details today about soldier's death; Survivor of police shooting plans private… Read more Audio