Presented by Geoff Robinson and Simon Mercep. The most authoritative and comprehensive coverage of local and world events to be found on morning radio happens from 6.00am to 9.00am every weekday on Radio New Zealand National. Geoff Robinson and the team go behind the headlines to cover the breaking stories, interview the news-makers and background the events summarised in Morning Report's full half-hourly news bulletins. In addition to its wide-ranging network of overseas correspondents and contacts, who provide unparalleled coverage of international events, Morning Report draws on the formidable resources of Radio New Zealand's nationwide news staff, including our Parliamentary team, Wellington-based special correspondents and regional reporters. This is the programme that politicians and newsmakers are happy to get up early for - and if they're in the news, you'll hear their side of the story on Morning Report!
06:00 Top Stories for Friday 9 September 2011
It's finally here - the Rugby World Cup starts today;RWC chief executive says stadium of 4 million is ready;Hive of activity at Eden Park as final preparations made;Defending champions will face Wales in weekend clash;Fans starting to crowd into Dunedin for RWC game;Tongan community ready for clash against Blacks;Aucklanders hold backyard celebrations as RWC opens;Thousands of journalists will relay RWC to rest of world;Auckland RWC organisers on-track for tonight;Burdett killer applies for Royal Prerogative of Mercy;EU president insists euro zone will survive. (37′27″)
06:10 Scotland arrives in Invercargill
And now, after years of buildup it's finally here - Rugby World Cup kick-off. All twenty teams are now in the country, ready to take the field at twelve stadiums across the country. (2′54″)
06:14 Inquiry finds British soldiers abused Iraqi prisoners
An independent inquiry into the death of an Iraqi civilian in British custody during the Iraq War eight years ago has concluded the man was the victim of gratuitous violence by soldiers. (4′53″)
06:18 Pacific News for 9 September 2011
The latest from the Pacific region. (3′29″)
06:22 Rural News for 9 September 2011
News from the rural and farming sector. (5′02″)
06:27 Manu Korihi News for 9 September 2011
After a 20 year wait, an Auckland sub-tribe will settle its treaty claims today, with the government; The Māori Party co-leader, Pita Sharples, says he now has little hope the government will review the Terrorism Act - or the police raids on Tuhoe; The Labour List MP, Mita Ririnui, says it's likely the New Zealand Māori Council will merge with the Iwi Leaders Forum; The South African Rugby Team is in for a rare honour: it's been invited to see the haka, Ka Mate, performed on the spot where it was composed. (2′46″)
06:35 NZ hopes high before first RWC match against Tonga
And after 24 years, the All Blacks are hoping to get their hands back on the Cup. The kick-off for the first game is now just 14 hours away, with New Zealand set to face Tonga at Auckland's Eden Park. (3′48″)
06:40 NZ leaves door to support Palestinian bid for UN recognition
In other news this morning, the Foreign Minister Murray McCully is leaving the door open for New Zealand to support a Palestinian bid for recognition as a state at the United Nations. (2′18″)
06:47 Morning Business for 9 September 2011
News from the business sector including a market report. (11′17″)
07:05 It's finally here - the Rugby World Cup starts today
It's here - the Rugby World Cup. Years of anticipation, tension, and sheer hard work are over. Now the enjoyment begins. For the second time in Rugby World Cup history, New Zealand's special culture will be put on show to players and fans from all continents. (3′10″)
07:12 RWC chief executive says stadium of 4 million is ready
It's been six years in the planning. The chief executive of Rugby World Cup 2011, Martin Snedden, says his organisation is ready to go. (4′19″)
07:16 Hive of activity at Eden Park as final preparations made
The opening ceremony begins at Eden Park at seven thirty tonight. (2′03″)
07:20 Defending champions will face Wales in weekend clash
In Wellington, fans are gearing up for Sunday night's clash between the defending champions, South Africa and Wales. (4′16″)
07:23 Fans starting to crowd into Dunedin for RWC game
And now down south to Dunedin where our reporter Ian Telfer is at the home base for many rugby fans, the Dunedin Holiday Park at St Kilda Beach. (2′24″)
07:27 Tongan community ready for clash against All Blacks
Backing Tonga all the way will be an official supporters group. (3′43″)
07:35 Aucklanders hold backyard celebrations as RWC opens
While tens of thousands of people head to Party Central for opening night, others will be hosting their own backyard celebrations. Street parties, pot-luck dinners and games on the big screen at the local rugby club, will all kick into action this afternoon. (3′25″)
07:39 Thousands of journalists will relay RWC to rest of world
As fans from all over the world arrive for the Rugby World Cup, two thousand journalists are relaying the stories to those who can't make it. The government is hoping the attention will generate visitors and business for years to come. (3′45″)
07:43 Auckland RWC organisers on-track for tonight
Part of the coverage will be of waterfront celebrations. Spectators are going to be treated to a 2.7 million dollar opening ceremony. (3′01″)
07:45 Sports News for 9 September 2011
An update from the team at RNZ Sport. (2′39″)
07:47 Burdett killer applies for Royal Prerogative of Mercy
A man jailed for the high-profile rape and murder of Susan Burdett two decades ago has asked the Governor-General to reopen his court case. (2′55″)
07:52 EU president insists euro zone will survive
Concern continues to rise about the future of the euro zone, with speculation in financial circles that Greece could be cut loose as attention turns to Italy's economic woes. Earlier in the week a senior strategist at the stockbrokers BGC Partners in London, Howard Wheeldon, told Morning Report the euro as we know it cannot survive. (4′14″)
08:07 Fireworks set to wow at RWC opening ceremony
It is being billed as the biggest fireworks display in New Zealand's history, and set to add to the wow factor of tonight's Rugby World Cup opening ceremony. A 12 minute display will start at 8 o'clock before the first match of the tournament. (2′50″)
08:12 Party Central ready to rock on Auckland's waterfront
Amelia Langford reports from the Cloud on Auckland's waterfront. (2′33″)
08:20 Old-style rugby experience for Invercargill RWC fans
Around the regions, in Southland, the province has thrown itself behind the tournament. (2′13″)
08:22 New fanzone will enable Chch fans to to share RWC
A specially constructed fanzone in Christchurch's Hagley Park will give rugby fans there the chance to be part of the Rugby World Cup. The Garden City had been due to host seven games including two quarter finals, but the damage to AMI Stadium after the February quake made this impossible. (3′34″)
08:23 Late surge in ticket sales expected for Rotorua game
Lorna Perry reports from the Rotorua International Stadium. (2′04″)
08:25 New Plymouth buzzing as weekend RWC games near
Andrew McRae reports on the RWC New Plymouth games. (1′58″)
08:27 US hopes more domestic rugby games will help at RWC
The United States has improved its domestic game and is hoping that will translate into an improved World Cup performance in New Zealand. However as Barry Guy reports, in the last of our team profiles, the Eagles still look a bit inexperienced. (1′25″)
08:28 Wales hope New Zealand coach will boost RWC chances
Wales who have another New Zealand coach in charge, are hoping to turn around recent disappointing World Cup performances. They've suffered at the hands of Pacific Island nations in previous tournaments and as Barry Guy suggests, that could happen again this time (1′52″)
08:29 Markets Update for 9 September 2011
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. (41″)
08:35 Sports News for 9 September 2011
An update from the team at RNZ Sport. (3′41″)
08:40 Waka to kick off Rugby World Cup celebrations
The arrival of twenty waka and 600 warriors at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland will signal the start of the Rugby World Cup festivities. (2′03″)
08:43 Rugby pundits weigh in on World Cup outcome
We've heard all about the opening ceremony, the celebrations, and the excitement - but what about the rugby? We're joined now by the rugby commentator, Keith Quinn, and the rugby writer, Bob Howitt. (6′17″)
08:48 Manu Korihi News for 9 September 2011
An Auckland hapu says its people are about to let go of their Treaty grievances and collectively become millionaires overnight; The Māori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says he now has little hope the government will review the Terrorism Act - or the police raids on Tuhoe; The Lake Taupo tribe, Tuwharetoa, have an honour in store for the South African World Cup Rugby team. (2′47″)
08:52 Government agency to revisit measurement of big transport plans
The Government's Transport Agency is taking a new look at how it measures the benefits of major projects. The agency says Auckland's proposed downtown rail tunnel has only a quarter of the one point three billion dollars of benefits claimed by Auckland Council - prompting criticism of the methods it uses. (3′48″)
08:55 Kerry-Anne Walsh with news from Australia
Simon talks to Kerry-Anne Walsh for the latest Australian news, views, rumour and innuendo. (3′00″)