Morning Report for Wednesday 4 February 2015

8:58 AM.Fiji plans to remove the Union Jack from its flag. The prime minister, Frank Bainamarama, says the flag had served the country well since 1970 but is now outdated. Audio

8:54 AM.The decision by a young German woman to leave an established track at Milford Sound, and take a photo too close to the edge of a ravine has led to a dramatic five hour rescue, but police say it could… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.The Australian government's been told there is nothing it can do to save two Australian drug smugglers from the firing squad. Audio

8:48 AM.A building expert says Maori need to wake up to the issue of earthquake-prone marae, describing the situation as a 'big runaway train hurtling towards them'. Whanau of students at a bilingual unit at… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.A new South Auckland charter school has taken a swing at state schools, but another says it wants to support its neighbours rather than compete with them. Audio

8:40 AM.Prisoner advocates say they're appalled no one will be prosecuted over the death of an Otago prisoner. Audio

8:35 AM.Golfing phenomenon Lydia Ko returns home to compete in the New Zealand Women's Open this month in Christchurch. Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:28 AM.A West Coast council says it's working to sort out a dispute over the ownership of part of a graveyard sold to a private owner. Audio

8:15 AM.Commemorations of the one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi begin tomorrow with politicians visiting Waitangi Marae. Audio

8:10 AM.There's shock and horror in Jordan, and around the world to the killing of captured Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh by Islamic state. Audio

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

7:54 AM.The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's woes are worsening, with one Coalition MP saying he will back a leadership contest. Audio

7:50 AM.John Key is facing more questions about exactly when he knew about the matters that led to the resignation of MP Mike Sabin. Audio

7:47 AM.Less than a week after the New Zealand central bank kept interest rates here unchanged, its Australian counterpart has surprised many by cutting its interest rates for the first time in a… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.If you're putting petrol in the car for the first time in a while today, you'll find the price is starting to creep back up. Audio

7:42 AM.Chinese investors are expected to buy even more New Zealand properties this year. Audio

7:28 AM.The Waitangi Day celebrations are taking place against the backdrop of ongoing divisions within host iwi Ngapuhi. Audio

7:27 AM.The new chairperson of the Waitangi marae says the Prime Minister should expect plain speaking at Waitangi this year, but not abuse. Audio

7:23 AM.Global dairy prices have bounced back overnight, jumping 9-point-4 percent overall in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction. Audio

7:17 AM.The British Parliament has voted to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people. Audio

7:10 AM.There's been a horrifying end to the capture of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh. Audio

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

6:59 AM.A brief market update. Audio

6:57 AM.Wellington's port, Centreport, is planning to dredge the harbour's shipping channel to allow bigger ships to visit it. Audio

6:55 AM.Competition with the booming Auckland housing market, is likely to constrain progress in the Canterbury rebuild, this year. Audio

6:53 AM.Infometrics sees the Auckland housing market heating up again, as pent up demand drives prices ever higher. Audio

6:51 AM.The prices of New Zealand's commodities fell further in January for the 11th consecutive month, although dairy products may have bottomed out. Audio

6:49 AM.The global dairy price index has risen for a fourth consecutive time, led by a jump in the whole milk powder price. Audio

6:45 AM.Paris is still reeling from the after effects of the killings at the Charlie Hebdo Headquarters last month, and the series of sieges that followed. Audio

6:27 AM.A building expert says Maori need to wake up to the issue of earthquake-prone marae, describing the situation as a 'big runaway train hurtling towards them'. An Australian-based study shows the Maori… Read more Audio

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

6:16 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:00 AM.Jordanian pilot burnt to death;UK parliament votes on triple parent;Dairy analyst discusses latest results from overnight auction;New chair of Waitangi marae asks for civil welcome for PM;Waitangi… Read more Audio