Morning Report for Monday 12 May 2014

8:56 AM.A pay freeze for politicians and senior public servants; smug pre-budget photograph of Australian Treasurer and Finance Minister smoking cigars becomes internet meme; survivors in light plane crash… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.In what's been called a tame and subdued occasion, Manchester City have beaten West Ham to take in the English Premier League the title this morning. Audio

8:48 AM.The winner of a new Whanau Ora agency contract was ordered to change its tender after members of its bidding team made controversial comments about a sex abuse case; A poverty study that's been going… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The trial of Australian entertainer, Rolf Harris, will resume in a London court later today. London correspondent, Natalie Feary, is covering the case. Audio

8:40 AM.Searchers in the American state of Virginia have this morning found the body of the third passenger of a hot air balloon that hit powerlines. Audio

8:36 AM.The Labour's Human Rights spokesperson, Maryan Street, says her party is urging the government to join the international effort to rescue the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. Audio

8:31 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:23 AM.Radio New Zealand's health correspondent, Karen Brown, looks at health needs across the economic divide. Audio

8:17 AM.The MP for the West Coast is Labour's Damien O'Connor. Audio

8:09 AM.Solid Energy plans new coal mines in attempt to haul itself out of financial misery. Audio

8:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:55 AM.About 50 family members of the men killed in the Pike River Mine disaster were in Wellington at the weekend for the first performance of a tribute song written by Dave Dobbyn. Audio

7:50 AM.New Zealand slips down the table after the show jumping phase of the Badminton horse trials in England and competition proves eventful in more ways than one. Audio

7:48 AM.The Council of Trade Unions has been given the go ahead to charge an employer with failing to take all practicable steps to keep an employee safe at work. Audio

7:43 AM.Aged care providers say chronic underfunding of the sector means they can't offer staff pay rises and some providers may struggle to maintain the quality of care for the elderly. Audio

7:33 AM.Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk are holding referenda on self governance in eastern Ukraine. Audio

7:25 AM.Prime Minister, John Key, denies money is being held back from the Canterbury earthquake recovery to make the Government's books look better. Audio

7:21 AM.The hot air balloon crash which killed the operator and 10-passengers near Carterton in January 2012 will today be the subject of an inquest in the Wellington Coroner's Court. Audio

7:15 AM.More than 3-and-a-half years after the Pike River disaster, Mines Rescue teams should be able to enter the main tunnel next month. Audio

7:10 AM.The financially troubled state-owned coal company Solid Energy wants to increase its mining for coal in an effort to get itself back to profitability. Audio

7:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:55 AM.Australia's Treasurer Joe Hockey is promising tough medicine to deal with what he calls a budget emergency. Audio

6:53 AM.ERA expected to decide this week whether Abano Healthcare has the right to terminate the employment of its former director and disaffected major shareholder, Peter Hutson. Audio

6:49 AM.Trustpower continues to pay out more in dividends than its per-share earnings on expectation that future results will be boosted by its soon to be completed South Australian wind farm. Audio

6:47 AM.Shareholders' Association urges Guinness Peat Group investors to vote against reappointment of company's founder and director, Sir Ron Brierley, at annual meeting next week. Audio

6:40 AM.A workplace health and safety lawyer says the Council of Trade Unions faces a difficult battle in trying to prosecute a forestry company over the death of an employee. Audio

6:38 AM.After losing money and going deeply into debt, and despite low international coal prices, the financially troubled state-owned coal company, Solid Energy, says its time to mine for more coal. Audio

6:27 AM.Whanau Ora agency contract recipient ordered to change tender after controversial comments about sex abuse; Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory Board chair David Taipari stands by his member's… Read more Audio

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

6:16 AM.Anti-independence parties retain Congress in New Caledonia elections; land owners defiant with new airport development in Vanuatu, and; 'think tank' says RAMSI too costly for Australia. Audio

6:10 AM.With a considerable majority, and despite allegations of corruption, the African National Congress has again been delivered the mandate to govern in South Africa. Audio

6:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:00 AM.Despite low international coal prices, the financially troubled State-owned coal company, Solid Energy, says its time to mine for more coal. A referendum on self-rule is held in eastern Ukraine… Read more Audio