Morning Report for Friday 18 October 2013

8:55 AM.Let's have a chat to our Canberra correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:50 AM.A new study shows a third of Maori nursing students smoke cigarettes, and most of those who try to quit, do it cold turkey, or without help; A lawyer says there is no conflict of interest in her role… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.A community-led clean up of the Waimea Estuary on the outskirts of Nelson is now underway thanks to a Richmond dog-walker and his brother-in-law. Audio

8:43 AM.The Wellington regional council building and Education House in New Plymouth have been identified as having similar design flaws as the CTV building that collapsed in Christchurch. Audio

8:40 AM.Lawmakers in the United States have ended the stand off that shut down the government and brought the country perilously close to defaulting on its debts. Audio

8:36 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 legal profession is being told it needs to do more to recognise increasing stress and potential mental health concern among its members. Audio

8:23 AM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, says he is more certain than ever that his party will decide who governs at the next election. Audio

8:20 AM.Opposition parties are calling for more consistency from the Speaker of the House, after the Greens co-leader, Metiria Turei, was ejected from Parliament. Audio

8:15 AM.A Wellington-based media lawyer says Len Brown may be able to claim his privacy has been breached. Audio

8:09 AM.A review of mayoral office spending is underway, after Auckland mayor Len Brown admitted to an affair with a council advisory board member. Audio

7:56 AM.What's believed to be the first Pasifika orchestral repertoire will get its premiere in south Auckland tomorrow night. Audio

7:52 AM.Claimants recounting their histories to the Waitangi Tribunal in Whangarei this week have told of the lethal impact of mercury mining on Maori families. Audio

7:49 AM.A backlog of ninety cases are waiting for a sentencing date at the Auckland District court just as it's about to take on more trials from the neighbouring Manukau court during refurbishment. Audio

7:46 AM.Raetihi residents could have their drinking water back on as early as Monday, if medical officials give the go ahead. Audio

7:43 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:39 AM.Criminal defence lawyers say changes to the legal system and increasing workloads mean more in the profession are feeling pressured and stressed. Audio

7:35 AM.A call is being made for the police watchdog to have greater powers so it can prosecute officers. Audio

7:27 AM.Hundreds of thousands of American government employees are heading back to work today after a bill was signed overnight to end the partial shut-down and prevent a debt default. Audio

7:23 AM.The Green Party says John Banks now faces a conflict of interest over voting on the legislation which gives Sky City a series of gambling concessions in return for building the convention centre. Audio

7:18 AM.The Government is coming under increasing pressure over its support for the ACT Party leader, John Banks. Audio

7:14 AM.The Auckland council hopes it will be able to swiftly determine whether the city's mayor spent ratepayers money during the course of a two-year long extra-marital affair. Audio

7:09 AM.Dozens of homes are feared destroyed as New South Wales reels from one of its worst bushfire days on record. Audio

6:46 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:40 AM.The ACT Party leader remains confident he will be cleared of an allegation he filed a false electoral return after the 2010 Auckland mayoral election. Audio

6:26 AM.A lawyer says there is no conflict of interest in her role as a Treaty negotiator and her involvement in appointing members to the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, the body that funds Maori to make claims… Read more Audio

6:21 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:17 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:13 AM.A year out from the general election and political parties are already beginning to pitch potential policies. Audio

6:00 AM.It's feared hundreds of homes have been destroyed by bushfires in New South Wales. The Auckland council aims to discover quickly whether ratepayers' money was used during the mayor's extramarital… Read more Audio