Morning Report for Monday 16 April 2012

8:55 AM.Phil talks to Simon from Melbourne about the latest news from the Lucky Country. Audio

8:53 AM.Roller derby is an aggressive form of skating targeted at women, with season openers featuring teams from Northland to Christchurch taking place on Saturday. Audio

8:49 AM.The sinking of the Titanic has been commemorated in Wellington, one hundred years to the day since the world's most famous ocean liner struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean. Audio

8:46 AM.The Maori Affairs Select Committee says it can't wait to hear from people who've made submissions on the inquiry into the status and well being of Maori children; The Maori Affairs Minister, Pita… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.Syrian government forces have reportedly continued to attack opponents in the city of Homs, despite a UN Security Council-sanctioned ceasefire being in force. 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.The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says the language describing building safety is unhelpful and is worrying people needlessly. The Authority's CEO, Roger Sutton, joins the programme. Audio

8:22 AM.The mining industry is warning the government not to be over-zealous in its desire for increased royalties, because it could risk making New Zealand uncompetitive with the rest of the world. Audio

8:19 AM.Prime Minister, John Key, and the Trade Minister, Tim Groser, have taken a 26-strong business delegation to Indonesia to help New Zealand tap into the market of the rapidly growing South East Asian… Read more Audio

8:14 AM.The authority that regulates medicines in New Zealand says it's working closely with surgeons to inform patients of a recall of a metal on metal hip replacement. Audio

8:09 AM.A former analyst at the US State Department, Professor Martin Weinbaum, joins the programme to talk about the 'spring offensive' which the Taliban has claimed responsibility for in Afghanistan. Audio

7:56 AM.Trade Me's decision to open up the site to overseas retailers is ruffling a few feathers. Audio

7:52 AM.Customs officers, whose work involves viewing thousands of harrowing images of online child abuse, say they rely on counselling to keep doing their jobs. Audio

7:49 AM.China's fourth-ranked leader is in New Zealand on a four-day visit which will include talks with the Government and a visit to Christchurch. Audio

7:45 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:41 AM.District and regional councils on the mineral-rich West Coast say if royalties to the government from mining companies are increased they want their share. Audio

7:38 AM.The Fire Service may have announced another investigation into its response to last year's deadly February earthquake in Christchurch, but there are already claims it won't go far enough although some… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.The cuts are part of the organisation's cabinet mandated target to save hundreds of millions of dollars over the next four years. Audio

7:25 AM.A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with the murder of his caregiver after a woman died of gunshot wounds in Taranaki yesterday afternoon. The officer in charge of New Plymouth CIB… Read more Audio

7:22 AM.The Chief Executive of the Orthopaedic Association, Flora Gilkison, joins the programme to discus the recall. Audio

7:19 AM.Orthopaedic surgeons say they're working hard to determine exactly how many New Zealanders have a hip replacement system that's been recalled. Audio

7:15 AM.High Court action has been launched, in a bid to keep the sex offender, dubbed the Beast of Blenheim, under state supervision long after his prison term expires. Audio

7:10 AM.The Taliban have launched what they're calling a spring offensive in Afghanistan, unleashing a wave of attacks in the capital Kabul where the British, German and Japanese embassies came under attack… Read more Audio

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

6:41 AM.Orthopaedic surgeons are working to contact a second group of patients whose hip replacement parts may be faulty after the medical safety regulator Medsafe announced a recall of the MITCH THR… Read more Audio

6:27 AM.The Maori Affairs Select Committee can't wait to get on the road and hear from people who've made submissions on the inquiry into the status and well being of Maori children; The Maori Affairs… 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.The defence force has cut allowances for personnel being sent overseas on non-operational posts. Audio

6:00 AM.The latest from Afghanistan where Taliban have claimed responsibility for attacks on multiple targets in and around Kabul; High Court bid launched to keep Beast of Blenheim sex-offender under… Read more Audio