Morning Report for Thursday 17 October 2013

8:57 AM.The number of cruise ships booked to visit Nelson over the next two years has tripled. Audio

8:53 AM.An investigation in Australia has revealed allegations of systemic doping, corruption and animal cruelty in the greyhound racing industry. Audio

8:49 AM.Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou plans to pump five million dollars into fifty of its marae in the East Cape and Gisborne areas; Tainui has tightened its grip on two top hotels; The head of a Ngai Tahu… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.A North Waikato marae says the granting of a resource consent for a new open cast mine in the area is just another example of big business triumphing over the 'little people'. Audio

8:43 AM.The body of a convicted Nazi war criminal is waiting in a Roman airport while three countries argue over where he will be buried. Audio

8:41 AM.A second New Zealand Greenpeace activist has been denied bail in Russia. 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.An expert in electoral law says it's unlikely John Banks will be able to avoid a trial. Audio

8:20 AM.The ACT Party says it backs its sole MP in Parliament, John Banks, one hundred percent and he will stay on as party leader. Audio

8:14 AM.New Zealand's Treasury Secretary, Gabriel Makhlouf, says a United States default would be very serious for the world economy. Audio

8:09 AM.In the United States, lawmakers have announced an agreement to avert the threatened Treasury default and reopen the government for business. Audio

7:57 AM.The newly elected Christchurch City Council had its first meeting with the Earthquake Recovery Minister last night, and councillors say it was the beginning of a much better working relationship. Audio

7:52 AM.A top navy officer facing a court martial for not disclosing an affair will today give the hearing his version of events. Audio

7:48 AM.The Labour Party says the Conservation Minister Nick Smith has mislead Parliament over whether he knew about the draft submission on the proposed Ruataniwha dam. Audio

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

7:43 AM.The New Zealand author Lloyd Jones, who was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2007 for his novel 'Mister Pip' to discusses Eleanor Catton's win. Audio

7:39 AM.The New Zealand literary world is hoping Eleanor Catton's Booker prize win for her novel 'The Luminaries' will be a boon for the struggling book trade. Audio

7:35 AM.An Afghan interpreter, injured during an attack that killed a New Zealand soldier, is still waiting for a visa, almost a year after being told he could come here. Audio

7:27 AM.The New Zealand Greenpeace activist Jon Beauchamp has been denied bail in Russia. Audio

7:24 AM.Auckland's mayor Len Brown remains sealed off today preparing for the formation of his freshly elected council, as new claims are made about how his two-year extra-marital affair became public. Audio

7:19 AM.RNZ political editor, Brent Edwards discusses immediate problems for the government. Audio

7:16 AM.The Prime Minister says the government still has the numbers to govern comfortably after the shock resignation of John Banks as a minister, and isn't contemplating a snap election. Audio

7:09 AM.In the United States, Republicans and Democrat leaders have finally reached a compromise to end the financial impasse and the partial government shut down. Audio

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

6:41 AM.The Prime Minister is continuing to back the ACT Party leader, John Banks, saying he'll have him back as a minister if he's cleared of electoral fraud allegations. Audio

6:36 AM.The United States shutdown appears to be over. The Democrat's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a bi-partisan compromise had been reached to raise the debt limit ahead of a looming default. Audio

6:27 AM.Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou plans to pump five million dollars into fifty of its marae in the East Cape and Gisborne areas; Tainui has tightened its grip on two top hotels; Native American tribes have… Read more Audio

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

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

6:15 AM.A second day of negotiations between Iran, five UN Security Council members and Germany has ended in Geneva. Audio

6:14 AM.At least 17 people have been killed in one of the most powerful storms to hit Japan in years. Audio

6:00 AM.President Obama welcomes news of a compromise deal; PM says government still stable after Banks' resignation, won't go to snap election; Radio New Zealand editor discusses Banks' resignation; Auckland… Read more Audio