Morning Report for Thursday 8 December 2016

8:50 AM.Horowhenua's new mayor has suffered a setback - councillors voted last night to dump the deputy mayor he appointed. Audio

8:47 AM.It appears the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May might've backflipped on her preparation for Brexit. Audio

8:39 AM.Business is quiet in the Far North this morning after a power cut has left thousands without electrictity. Audio

8:35 AM.Reports of a lacklustre catch in several regions this season are sparking calls for fishing for whitebait to be better regulated and researched. Read more Audio

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

8:25 AM.There's a lot of pride in South Auckland as Joseph Parker prepares to fight for a world heavyweight boxing title. Indira Stewart talks to his parents and other excited members of the community. Audio

8:21 AM.Different ways of reporting NCEA results at state and charter schools means an imperfect impression of charter schools' performance is being created. While officials are moving to fix the problem… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.Tourism operators are frustrated by the lack of action on, and information about, the main road south from Kaikoura. They say nothing appears to be happening and the lack of concrete information is… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.We look back at a turbulent week in politics with the former National Party press secretary Ben Thomas and the former National Party MP Tau Henare. Audio

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

7:56 AM.Auckland's mayor Phil Goff is on the verge of announcing a new move on housing, just a day after an attempt to set-up a multi-sector group was scrapped due to a lack of council and government support.

7:55 AM.David Shearer confirms he's being considered by the United Nations Secretary General to be his Special Representative in South Sudan. He says the Security Council's considering him and he can't… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.The police view: "It's no silver bullet that's for sure." Audio

7:49 AM.Most 17-year-old offenders will be dealt with in the youth justice system instead of adult courts, under changes announced by the government yesterday. Audio

7:45 AM.The latest economic update and budget policy statement is out today. Our business editor Gyles Beckford says the surplus are likely to be big "and that's going to give them some money to play with." Audio

7:29 AM.Power has been cut to the far north. It is affecting all areas north from Kaikohe north. We have the latest from Transpower. Audio

7:27 AM.RNZ's Jane Patterson discussed what David Shearer's resignation will mean for local politics. Audio

7:14 AM.RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson says the number of MPs planning to vote for Bill English is in the the 30s, if not the 40s. Audio

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

6:58 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:55 AM.A financial literacy workshop has given inmates at Rimutaka Prison insights into saving, setting up a bank account, and getting a loan. Audio

6:53 AM.A commercial real estate firm says the dust is being brushed off plans and more new buildings could pop up in Wellington after the recent earthquakes. Audio

6:51 AM.The Australian economy has contracted for the first time in five years, but growth is expected to return in the fourth quarter. Audio

6:45 AM.A Napier District Court jury heard closing arguments in the case of four police officers accused of using excessive force when they used tasers and police dogs during an arrest. Audio

6:39 AM.As jockeying for lead in the race to become the new Prime Minister continues MPs took time in Parliament yesterday to pay tribute to the outgoing prime minister, John Key. Audio

6:26 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:20 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:16 AM.RNZ International's Don Wiseman says there is upset around the Pacific at a decision by the Australia Broadcasting Corporation to drop its shortwave radio services. Audio

6:12 AM.Frustration is building about progress on the main road south of Kaikoura, with tourism operators accusing authorities of leaving them in the dark. Audio

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

6:00 AM.Votes for Bill English are stacking up; Bill English clear frontrunner - RNZ Political Editor; should Bennett or Bridges be National's new deputy leader?; David Shearer to quit Parliament for UN post… Read more Audio