Morning Report for Friday 22 May 2015

8:56 AM.Let's have a chat to our Canberra correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:52 AM.The 2015 Top Ten New Species list has just been announced and once again discoveries involving New Zealanders have been judged among the world's most amazing discoveries. Audio

8:48 AM.It's 20-years today since Waikato-Tainui signed the first major settlement based on historical confiscation of land, or raupatu, with the Crown. Audio

8:44 AM.The Māori Party says a 790-million-dollar boost to a hardship fund will go a long way to help whanau with children in need. An agency that deals with those working at the coalface of poverty, The… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Ireland's on the eve of making world history with the first ever same-sex marriage referendum. Audio

8:37 AM.The official bill for rebuilding Vanuatu after March's devastating Cyclone Pam has been put at 600 million dollars. Audio

8:35 AM.Campaigners for more bowel cancer screening are angry and baffled by the Government's decision not to fund a national testing programme. Audio

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

8:26 AM.Auckland city's main iwi is seeking a partnership with the Crown to significantly increase housing supply. Audio

8:22 AM.The Black Caps started strongly at Lord's but England have fought back on day one of the first test in London Audio

8:17 AM.Business editor Patrick O'meara is with us Audio

8:14 AM.The Children's Commissioner, Dr Russell Wills, says he's pleasantly surprised to see a rise in benefits of up 25-dollars for beneficiaries with children. Audio

8:10 AM.The Finance Minister had downplayed expectations of measures to alleviate child poverty. Audio

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

7:55 AM.The former Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker may not have brought the America's Cup home in 2013, but he's heading for another shot at the title after taking the helm of SoftBank Team Japan. Audio

7:50 AM.We're joined by the president of the Council of Trade Unions, Helen Kelly, and the chief executive of Business New Zealand, Phil O'Reilly. Audio

7:46 AM.Unions representing low-paid workers expect the small boost to tax breaks for working families in the Budget will be quickly be absorbed by rising costs. Audio

7:39 AM.A lawyer for Nelson motorcycle gang the Red Devils says a High Court judge had no choice but to throw out charges against its members. Audio

7:35 AM.Islamic State has taken control of Palmyra and there are now very real fears the militants will destroy most of its heritage buildings and monuments. Audio

7:28 AM.The Budget wasn't the only announcement made at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Audio

7:24 AM.With us is political editor Brent Edwards. Audio

7:20 AM.And listening to that is Labour's finance spokesperson, Grant Robertson. Audio

7:14 AM.This is the seventh Budget from the Finance Minister Bill English. So, does Mr English expect a 25 dollar rise in benefit levels to be life changing? Audio

7:11 AM.Opposition parties have reluctantly agreed to support the first stage of a Bill to lift benefit payments, saying something is better than nothing. Audio

7:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:58 AM.Business growth in the United States and euro zone slowed in May, while China's factory sector contracted again. Audio

6:57 AM.DNZ Property Fund says its new NorthWest shopping centre in Auckland will boost profits from the time its opens in October. Audio

6:56 AM.Domino's Pizza says it will create 3,000 new jobs in Australia and New Zealand in what is set to be the biggest intake of employees in the company's history. Audio

6:56 AM.Intueri Education is building more teaching kitchens to cater for the rising number of international foodies looking to hone their culinary skills in New Zealand. Audio

6:53 AM.Rakon says the company is back in the black and focused on growing its core strengths, after a major restructuring. Audio

6:52 AM.The NZX is stepping up efforts to increase the size of New Zealand's capital markets as it faces criticism for its poor share price. Audio

6:50 AM.New Zealand's migration boom may be short lived. Audio

6:49 AM.Meanwhile, the budget had little in it for business except for the 500-million dollar cut in ACC levies. Audio

6:47 AM.An economist says next year's forecast surplus could still be missed. Audio

6:38 AM.The Prime Minister is talking up the budget and its answer to poverty. Audio

6:26 AM.The Māori Party says a 790-million-dollar boost to a hardship fund will go a long way to help whanau with children in need. An agency that deals with those working at the coalface of poverty, The… Read more Audio

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

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

6:12 AM.School leaders are worried the one percent increase to their operations grants in the Budget is not enough. Audio

6:10 AM.The head of education union the Educational Institute, Louise Green, says the Budget is tough on schools and early childhood centres. Audio

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

6:00 AM.More money for those at the bottom .. but is it enough ??...Bill English responds to critics of his benefit boost. Islamic State's wrecking ball hovers over yet more of the Middle East's cultural… Read more Audio