Morning Report for Wednesday 31 January 2018

6:06 AM.A update from the team at RNZ sport. Audio

6:00 AM.Speculation mounts over Bill English's National leadership, Racism against Maori, Pasifika in schools revealed, Child poverty law welcomed by Children's Commissioner, Otago, Southland drough declared… Read more Audio

6:11 AM.The Government's so-called waka jumping bill has passed its first reading in Parliament. The legislation is designed to stop MPs from ditching their party and is part of the coalition deal between… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.An Auckland woman is calling for strict rules for doggy daycare centres after the death of her family's pet. Natalie Newton of Milford says her two-year-old bulldog Tank died of a heart attack… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is poised to unveil her first set of targets for reducing child poverty. And it could be as soon as Wednesday afternoon, with Ms Ardern due to make a major speech… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The late Helen Kelly's son Dylan Kelly says his mother would've been deeply disappointed with the Government's medicinal cannabis bill, calling it woefully inadequate. Audio

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

7:18 AM.Disturbing complaints by students about racism in schools have emerged in a new report published today. Students say they suffered from racial stereotypes and low expectations from teachers, as well… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.The National Party is warning the so-called waka jumping bill will see New Zealand join the ranks of Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe when it comes to democracy. The government's legislation - which passed… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.Banning letting fees and allowing landlords to increase rents just once per year are two of the ways the government wants to make life easier for renters. Housing Minister Phil Twyford is planning to… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Donald Trump is expected to highlight the United States booming stockmarket and economy when he delivers his first State of the Union address to Congress in a little over eight hours. Mr Trump is also… Read more Audio

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

8:09 AM.Wellington's commuter train company is calling yesterday's transport failure the worst scenario it could have faced. The problem was caused by three electrical failures that halted all electric trains… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.The extreme weather continues this week - but while some parts of the country are still sweltering , heavy rain and winds are on the way. Chris Brandolino from NIWA joins Guyon Espiner to explain… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Speculation is mounting about the future of the Opposition leader Bill English and his deputy Paula Bennett. We are hearing about stirrings in the caucus about their leadership team particularly Ms… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.The job of recovering the bodies of the 29 men who died in the Pike River Mine will take an important step on Wednesday. The doors of the Pike River Recovery Agency - Te Kahui Whakamana Rua Tekau ma… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.New Plymouth has done a flip-flop on its open-door freedom camping policy and is to ban campers from the popular Waiwhakaiho river mouth, and apologised for allowing them to stay there this summer… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.Residents in an Auckland suburb are frustrated a heap of illegally dumped rubbish keeps growing by the day. And it's not small items either - car seats, mattressess and even trees are being tossed at… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.The Irish government's decision to hold a referendum on abortion law reform this year has sparked furious debate in the republic. The May referendum will be the first time in 35 years Irish voters… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.Sixteen teams from around the world have arrived in Hamilton for this weekend's round of World Rugby Sevens. Hamilton has taken over hosting the New Zealand leg from Wellington after the capital lost… Read more Audio