Morning Report for Tuesday 18 December 2018

8:51 AM.The festive season can be stressful at the best of times. But for those people down on their luck, suffering from ill-health or missing a loved one it can be especially difficult. Our Taranaki… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.A group trying to re-open a network of Second World War air-raid tunnels beneath central Auckland is hoping a wealthy finance consortium will make its dream a reality. They've asked for tens of… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.The Transport Agency is promising lengthy delays north of Wellington won't extend into the Christmas period. But frustrated commuters aren't holding their breath. Traffic travelling to and from the… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.Tens of thousands of people who've either been diagnosed with hepatitis C or suspect they may have it are being urged to see their family doctor. That's because for the first time, a drug is being… Read more Audio

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:24 AM.Following criticism of the Law Society's handling of Russell McVeagh and other accusations of sexual misconduct, Guyon Espiner spoke to Kathryn Beck, the Law Society President. Audio

8:19 AM.A former lawyer says the Law Society needs to take actual disciplinary action and fine or disbar those who behave inappropriately. The Law Society is bringing in new rules after a review into sexual… Read more Audio

8:14 AM.A union leader who represents migrant workers is dismayed a man accused of human trafficking and slavery in New Zealand went undetected for more than 20 years. Viliamu Samu (better known as Joseph… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Measures designed to protect subcontractors and suppliers' money when a construction company collapses appear to be failing. And industry players are warning more losses loom if there aren't tougher… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The first cricket Test against Sri Lanka has run almost perfectly for the Black Caps so far and it's now when rather than if the homeside will win. Audio

7:52 AM.A world-record performance by opener Tom Latham has put the Black Caps firmly in charge of the first test against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve. When New Zealand's first innings ended on 578, Latham… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.The former Minister for Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson says the current minister Andrew Little should walk away from Ngāpuhi. Tribal members have voted overwhelmingly against a proposal for who… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.Auckland secondary school principals are so fed up with their local truancy services, they're hiring their own staff to do the job. They say just one of the city's four attendance services is good at… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Let's go back to our lead story on slavery and human trafficking. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in our Wellington studio. Audio

7:19 AM.The Road Transport Forum says modern four-lane highways are the only practical solution for improving road safety on key routes. The Government has announced it will spend $1.4 billion on safety… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.The Transport Agency has known for at least for two years its truck and bus inspection system is being gamed to cover up risky operators but has not fixed the weaknesses. Newly released documents… Read more Audio

7:12 AM.A union wants employers - not just recruiters - scrutinised amid fears there could be more slave bosses active in New Zealand. A 64 year old orchard worker has been charged with 18 counts of human… Read more Audio

7:06 AM.The Black Caps opener Tom Latham says he knew he had it in him to bat for a long time as he helped put the homeside into a potentially match winning position in the first test against Sri Lanka at the… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.CBL Insurance deficit could be as much as $343 million. BNZ front line staff say regional businesses and economy in good heart. Sub contractors financial protection measures not working. Financial… Read more Audio

6:47 AM.Racing driver, Brendon Hartley, says he hasn't given up hope of getting back into Formula One. This year Hartley became the first New Zealander since Chris Amon in 1976 to have a full time F1… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little will be forced to go back to the drawing board after Ngāpuhi overwhelmingly rejected a plan for who should represent them in treaty negotiations with… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.Auckland secondary school principals are appalled by the poor performance of attendance services that are supposed to bring the city's truants and non-enrolled children back to school. They say three… Read more Audio

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

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

6:15 AM.A review of how DNA is used in criminal investigations has raised the possibility of a databank that would hold every New Zealanders' DNA. The Law Commission has reviewed the Criminal Investigations… Read more Audio

6:12 AM.An employment lawyer hopes proposed new rules in the legal sector will be a game-changer for a profession under fire. A report by a working group chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright has found… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.To the UK where Prime Minister Theresa May says she will allow MPs to vote on her Brexit deal - next month. Last week she pulled out of a vote on the issue when it became clear she would lose it… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.The New Zealand opener Tom Latham was beaming after he left the Basin Reserve last night after an historic day for him that has the Black Caps well placed for victory in the first cricket Test against… Read more Audio