Morning Report for Thursday 17 October 2019

6:12 AM.The Government won't be changing the rules any time soon to allow debt write-offs for beneficiaries who are struggling to pay back loans they've taken out loans to cover basic living costs. Our social… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:39 AM.Wellington's Regional Council scrambled to remove ads promoting a career in bus driving after it discovered a string of racist tweets by one of its poster boys. Official information obtained by RNZ… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The police union is accusing the government of breaking its promise over the number of police it's supposed to deliver. The association says it's always been told the target of 1800 new staff is a net… Read more Audio

6:47 AM.There's a tense wait in Europe to learn the outcome of Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. The European Council's president, Donald Tusk, says the foundations of a deal are ready for approval. But Prime… Read more Audio

6:51 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

7:10 AM.Wellington's Regional Council scrambled to remove ads promoting a career in bus driving after it discovered a string of racist tweets by one of its poster boys. The ads, which cost more than one… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.The Justice Minister Andrew Little is being bullish about new counter-terrorism legislation saying he's not up for negotiating. Without Green support Mr Little needs National's votes, but the… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.The Greens won't back the Government's anti-terrorism bill, saying it's unnecessary and lacks human rights safeguards. Its justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman says it needs those safeguards built in… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.The Police Association says the government is breaking its promise over the number of extra police it's supposed to deliver. As recently as Tuesday, Police Minister Stuart Nash said the target of 1800… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.New Zealand First's youth wing is at odds with its leader Winston Peters over pill-testing at festivals and is working to overturn the party's position. The news comes after a One News Colmar Brunton… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.Aid groups warn a humanitarian crisis is rapidly escalating in the wake of Turkey's military operation into Syria. The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands have already been displaced… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.A police gang specialist predicts there will be more attempts to corrupt police officers as more gang members arrive after being deported from Australia. He says they're bringing with them… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.A petition organiser is celebrating Massey University's cancellation of an event planned for the campus. The University has told a women's group - described by critics as anti-trans - to find an… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.This afternoon at 1.30pm, hundreds of thousands of people across the country will drop, cover and hold as part of a nationwide earthquake drill. More than 750,000 people have signed up for the New… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Which banger is the best? Well, later tonight the country is about to find out just that. More than 500 sausages from nearly 100 stores have entered the compeition and standing in the way between them… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Government is facing opposition from National and the Green Party over a new bill which aims to clamp down on New Zealanders returning home after being involved in terrorist activities abroad… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.Mediaworks has cut two popular comedy shows from TV3, in a further sign of the company's deepening economic problems. Long-running comedy panel show 7 Days has been reduced to just 12 episodes a year… Read more Audio

8:26 AM.The Australian Diamonds have levelled the Constellation Cup series one-all after a 48-42 win over the Silver Ferns in Auckland last night. The four-Test series now heads to Sydney and Perth, where the… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.The All Blacks big clash with Ireland holds most interest for Kiwi fans when it comes to this weekend's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. But - in Japan - fans of the home team have their own huge match… Read more Audio

8:35 AM.A brief update on the movements in the financial sector Audio

8:40 AM.Nine organisations including Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, and Fish and Game say the Government's freshwater reforms reward the highest polluters, and there need to be clear rules for farmers when it… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.New research from the Productivity Commission shows the extent of change in where we live and the jobs we do. The Commission's economics and research director Dr Patrick Nolan looked at data going… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.The chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council is under fire for appearing in ads promoting the council's achievements just ahead of the local body elections. A rival candidate has complained to the… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.The three Ellison brothers love living and playing in Japan. Former All Black Tamati, former Super Rugby player Jacob, and Mana College old boy Leon all play for the Kurita club in Ashikima, with… Read more Audio