Morning Report for Thursday 31 July 2014

8:55 AM.We've been reporting this morning on a major fire at the Auckland Film Studio in Henderson, which is understood to have damaged an area being used to film the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.Victoria University geologists have set up a drill rig on a remote sheep farm inland from Whanganui - not to extract oil or gas, but to study ancient shorelines and sea level changes. Audio

8:49 AM.Mid-Canterbury residents want the Canterbury Regional Council to increase its monitoring of the Ashburton River's water quality to see if intensive farming along the river is degrading it. Audio

8:46 AM.A South Taranaki tribe will be signing its Treaty Settlement tomorrow - with the majority of the iwi supporting the deal with the Crown; The co-leader of the Maori Party is rejecting claims by the… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.Shot putter Valerie Adams has defended her Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow this morning with a 19.88 metre put to win gold. Audio

8:38 AM.On last year's census form more than 46 thousand people selected Islam as their religion, that's nearly double the number of people who did so two censuses ago in 2001. Audio

8:35 AM.The retiring Health Minister, Tony Ryall, had an especially colourful farewell in Parliament last night. Audio

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

8:29 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to the author Ian Wishart, who wrote 'Arthur Thomas the Inside Story. Audio

8:25 AM.The journalist who campaigned for the release of Arthur Allan Thomas, Pat Booth, says it's unfortunate the police review of the murders of Harvey and Jeanette Crewe continues to point the finger at Mr… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.Teachers say they're celebrating the government's decision to take control of Novopay, the controversial educational payroll system that has been beset with problems. Audio

8:13 AM.Shots were fired at police officers in Tauranga after a car chase in the city last night. Audio

8:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:57 AM.The tiny New Zealand territory of Tokelau is asking to join the Pacific Islands Forum so it can speak out more loudly on the need for action on climate change. Audio

7:53 AM.People in the small Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau are fighting back after having welfare statistics in their town mentioned twice in Parliament. Audio

7:50 AM.Savers are being overtaxed, and politicians are being urged to stop it. Audio

7:43 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to Peter Williams QC, who represented Arthur Allan Thomas at the Royal Commission into his case in 1980. Audio

7:42 AM.More than forty years after the death of her parents, Harvey and Jeanette, Rochelle Crewe still does not know who killed them. Audio

7:36 AM.New Zealand's won three Bronze medals this morning at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Audio

7:25 AM.Guyon Espiner talks to the president of the Principals' Federation, Philip Harding, and the president of the Post Primary Teachers' Association, Angela Roberts. Audio

7:19 AM.At least 76 people have died in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza, with particularly heavy toll after shells hit a United Nations school, sending the Palestinian toll from 23 days of fighting above… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.Forty-five million dollars and two years later, the Government has finally admitted defeat over Novopay. Audio

7:14 AM.Sixty firefighters from all over Auckland have worked through the night to put out a blaze at a major film studio in the west of the city. Audio

7:09 AM.Shots have been fired at police officers in Tauranga after a car chase in the city last night. Audio

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

6:59 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:58 AM.New Zealand Oil & Gas says the country can't build an oil exploration industry on the back of wildcat oil discoveries. Audio

6:56 AM.Activity in all parts of the construction sector is continuing to pick up pace, once again raising inflation fears. Audio

6:53 AM.Although slashing the forecast milk payout was bad news for farmers, the silver lining for investors is it means they will get a higher dividend. Audio

6:53 AM.The new chief executive of Methven Group is working on a three-point plan to increase the shower and tapware manufacturer's revenue and earnings. Audio

6:50 AM.Motor Trade Finances says the shareholders worried about litigation it's involved in are a small minority of 9 out of 500. Audio

6:47 AM.Metro Performance Glass shares began trading at a premium to the float price yesterday, breaking the losing streak set by the previous three newly listed companies which traded at discounts. Audio

6:41 AM.Sixty firefighters from all over Auckland have worked through the night to put out a blaze at a major film studio in the west of the city. Audio

6:39 AM.School principals have been celebrating the news the government is taking over the school payroll from Australian firm Talent2. Audio

6:26 AM.The co-leader of the Maori Party is rejecting claims by the Internet Mana's Waiariki candidate that the two are neck-in-neck in the polls; A South Taranaki tribe will be signing its Treaty Settlement… Read more Audio

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

6:19 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:14 AM.Arthur Thomas was twice convicted of their 1970 murders, but later freed after a scathing Royal Commission into the Police's investigation. Audio

6:09 AM.Today is the last sitting day of the 50th term of Parliament, and the gloves were off last night for the last general debate as some MPs took the opportunity to vent after three years. Audio

6:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:00 AM.Shots fired during police chase in Tauranga; Auckland film studios extensively damaged by fire; UN agency says Palestinians need aid; Minister talks to why Novopay system being bought under govt… Read more Audio