Morning Report for Thursday 16 October 2014

8:55 AM.A New Zealand woman, Amirah William, helped to set up an animal rescue centre with two volunteers last year to rehome the growing number of stray dogs found in the United Arab Emirates, but she now… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.New Zealand has been pipped at the post in the annual quest to find the world's finest bale of Merino wool. Audio

8:50 AM.School children in South Auckland have taken it upon themselves to officially lobby authorities to turn down plans for an off-licence near their school. Audio

8:47 AM.The new funding agency for Whanau Ora services in the North Island says Te Puni Kokiri should come clean and say when and in which areas it underspent. A hui to help opposing hapu engage with the… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Samoan rugby fans are accusing Air New Zealand of price gouging as it pushes up the cost of flights to Apia by almost four times the usual price during the All Blacks versus Samoa match there next… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Prosecutors have roundly rejected a probation worker's claim that Oscar Pistorius would be vulnerable in jail. Audio

8:37 AM.Long time sponsor New Zealand Post has announced its withdrawal, forcing the organisers to put the awards on hold. Audio

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

8:28 AM.Energy consultant Richard Hale of Hale & Twomey speaks with Guyon Espiner. Audio

8:25 AM.Drastic falls in the American oil market are yet to make a big difference to prices at New Zealand petrol pumps. Audio

8:20 AM.New Zealand will know tomorrow morning whether the government's been successful in winning a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. Audio

8:15 AM.The government's being told there's no place for a New Zealand military contribution in the fight against Islamic State militants, as John Key still won't reveal the role this country might play. Audio

8:10 AM.More than 20 people are dead in Nepal, after a severe snow storm hit lower slopes of the Himalayas, killing foreign trekkers, sherpas and yak herders in an icy blast. Audio

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

7:56 AM.The new series, Thunderbirds are Go! - debuting 50 years after the original. Audio

7:51 AM.The largest group of men ever to leave this country to fight overseas left from Wellington on this day, 100 years ago to take part in the First World War. Audio

7:48 AM.Authors, writers and publishers fear for the future of the New Zealand Book Awards, now without a major sponsor and on the shelf until 2016. Audio

7:43 AM.The release of the official advice on child poverty which formed the basis of that report we just heard from Brent Edwards came 17 months after Radio New Zealand asked for them. Audio

7:40 AM.The Treasury advised the Government it had doubts a comprehensive food in schools programme would do anything to improve children's learning. Audio

7:34 AM.The newly appointed Building and Housing, and Environment Minister, Nick Smith is promising a rewrite of the Resource Management Act to explicitly make more affordable housing one of its objectives. Audio

7:27 AM.There could be a New Zealand link in the investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007. Audio

7:24 AM.A second employee at a hospital in Dallas, Texas has tested positive for ebola. Audio

7:18 AM.Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer speaks with Guyon Espiner. Audio

7:14 AM.The Government remains coy on this country's role in the fight against ISIS, despite Defence Chief Tim Keating taking part in yesterday's so-called war summit in the United States. Audio

7:11 AM.At least 21 trekkers - including a number of foreign tourists - have died in a snowstorm and avalanches in Nepal's Himalayas. Audio

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

6:58 AM.Wall Street is weaker again as weak economic data increases fears of a global economic slowdown. Audio

6:55 AM.The head of the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund says she wants to share insights gained from being on the board of a large firm to help startups become listed companies. Audio

6:53 AM.If you're a farming, forestry or fisheries worker, your employer might be planning to give you a bigger pay packet. Audio

6:53 AM.An Auckland technology company is now looking to expand into China, after establishing a foothold in the United States. Audio

6:50 AM.Xero's latest milestone in trying to make itself indispensible to its small business clients is its partnership with Z Energy. Audio

6:47 AM.The New Zealand dollar rose over a cent against the US dollar overnight, following the Global Dairy Trade auction. Audio

6:42 AM.The United Nations is preparing to vote on which countries will join the Security Council - a vote that could see New Zealand elected in. Audio

6:40 AM.A second health worker in Dallas, Texas involved in caring for a Liberian man who died from ebola has tested positive for the disease. Audio

6:26 AM.The new funding agency for Whanau Ora services in the North Island says Te Puni Kokiri should come clean and say when and in which areas it underspent. A hui to help opposing hapu engage with the… Read more Audio

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

6:19 AM.The Police Association says the provinces are feeling the pinch from a frozen police budget. Audio

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

6:10 AM.The Labour Party says the Treasury should rely on common sense and support proposals to feed hungry school children. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Labour says Treasury wrong to reject food in school proposal, UN Security Council vote in 24 hours, NZ could win seat, Deadly snowstorm takes toll on Nepalese trekkers, NZ's inclusion in war summit… Read more Audio