Morning Report for Wednesday 23 December 2015

8:56 AM.Three shearers from the Hawke's Bay have secured a world record after a marathon 8-hour effort, in sweltering heat. Audio

8:53 AM.New Zealand thorougbred racing handicapper Dennis Quirke has been suspended after it was discovered he'd been betting on races. Audio

8:51 AM.Newly funded research will investigate why Maori are overrepresented in the drowning statistics. Audio

8:47 AM.Those organising support for the Syrians who will be resettled in Wellington early next year are appealing for people to welcome them with open arms and friendship. Audio

8:43 AM.A five year deadlock over Christchurch's cathedral may be at an end with an announcement from the Bishop, Victoria Matthews this afternoon. Audio

8:39 AM.An early morning attack on a Kauri tree in the west Auckland suburb of Titirangi has been described as malicious and cowardly. Audio

8:33 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:13 AM.It's been a busy year politics in 2015. Audio

8:10 AM.A business lobby group says there's no chance the Government will achieve its goal of boosting exports from 30 percent of GDP to 40 percent by 2025. Audio

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

7:55 AM.Two women whose relatives died in the Pike River Mine disaster are continuing their legal fight to have the mine's chief executive Peter Whittall prosecuted. Audio

7:51 AM.A coal mining consortium has restarted efforts to develop an open cast mine on Department of Conservation land in the lower Buller Gorge near Westport. Audio

7:48 AM.There's a fresh warning from police this summer about the dangers of drink-spiking Audio

7:44 AM.Christmas shoppers are spending up large around the country in the run up to Christmas Day. Audio

7:39 AM.Auckland bus drivers say a 15-cent-an hour payrise isn't enough. Audio

7:36 AM.Kim Dotcom and his three co-accused will learn their fates today when a district court judge rules whether the men are eligible for extradition to the United States Audio

7:26 AM.The world is one step closer to cheap space travel after a private company succesfully landed a rocket vertically. Audio

7:20 AM.Jacob Oram played alongside Brendon McCullum in the Black Caps. Audio

7:17 AM.A big loss, an ambassador for New Zealand cricket, a true Kiwi. Audio

7:14 AM.Hundreds of police patrol cars are out on the job at any one time without firearms. Audio

7:11 AM.A mother and son who fled Pakistan because Taliban militants were trying to kill them have been sent home by a New Zealand tribunal. Audio

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

6:59 AM.Retailer, Smiths City Group, has made a first half net profit of 2-point-6 million dollars. Audio

6:58 AM.American stocks are modestly firmer helped by a slight lift in oil prices. Audio

6:55 AM.The rural services firm, PGG Wrightson, says it's learned a tough lesson after being fined 2-point-7 million dollars for fixing the prices for services required to comply with the National Animal… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.The Auckland-based drugmaker, AFT Pharmaceutical, listed yesterday to be just the fourth and last company to list on the NZX's main board this year --- a far cry from the 16 that listed last year. Audio

6:51 AM.The outdoor clothing and goods retailer, Macpac, is looking to rapidly expand after being taken over by an Australian private equity firm, Champ Ventures. Audio

6:49 AM.Australian infrastructure investor First State Investments, which is owned by Australia's Commonwealth Bank, is on the look out for further purchases after it's acquired two major assets in a short… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.A road that would cut through the country's second largest national park to link the West Coast and Nelson has initial support from the Government. Audio

6:41 AM.Black Caps Coach Mike Hesson is praising retiring captain Brendon McCullum as a "team man first and foremost", saying he'll be a big loss to New Zealand cricket. Audio

6:27 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:21 AM.Our business editor, Gyles Beckford, is in now with what's happening in the financial world.... And the sharemarket looks to be ending the year on a high. Audio

6:18 AM.The number of migrants arriving in Europe has topped an unprecedented one million people this year, says the International Organisation for Migration. Audio

6:13 AM.The Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association says it's time for a rethink of the export target if the Government's serious about raising the country's living standards. Audio

6:09 AM.More now on Brendon McCullum's decision to retire after next year's test matches againt Australia. Audio

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

6:00 AM.A mother and son who fled the Taliban are sent home by immigration officials. Renewed calls for all police cars to carry firearms asnd the tills are ringing with record transactions in the run up to… Read more Audio