Summer Report for Thursday 7 January 2010

9:52 AM.Whanganui, Otago, Hanmer, Lake Alexandrina, Onamalutu, Waihola: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's dictionary of New Zealand place names. Audio

9:38 AM.The last part of Simon Morton's perspiring in Mt Aspiring National Park. Audio

9:34 AM.Bat's are New Zealand's only native land mammals and were previously found pretty much everywhere around the country. Audio

9:26 AM.The Weta's an ancient species dating back 190 million years to when New Zealand was still part of Gondwanaland. Audio

9:20 AM.Des Lehndorf sets off today to trek the length of the South Island, starting at the top, to raise funds for a kiwi project. Audio

9:16 AM.If you've been in the capital you would have seen an abundance of one-wheel wonders making their way around the city. Today is the final day of Unicon, the 15th Unicycle World Championships and… Read more Audio

9:12 AM.China is enduring its heaviest snowfalls in nearly six decades, pushing the country's power supplies to the limit. Audio

9:10 AM.A top lawyer says a judge's ruling against the SPCA in an animal cruelty case should make organisations hesitate to invite the media in to provide coverage of their operations. Audio

8:52 AM.The Horowhenua town of Foxton is off the beaten track today, but may soon be back on it. Passionate locals have launched a $15 million project to turn the town into a tourist hub in time for the Rugby… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.The country's first commercial tea plantation was launched last month near Hamilton. The 50-hectare Zealong plantation produces Oolong tea. Audio

8:39 AM.Archers competing at the National Archery Championships in Hamilton today head out into the fields for a simulated hunting contest. Audio

8:34 AM.The Women's Tennis Classic is getting towards the business end of things in Auckland with the quarter finals beginning today. Audio

8:30 AM.New Zealand workers are now able to donate to charity directly from their pay and receive an immediate credit on their tax. Audio

8:27 AM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

8:23 AM.In Britain, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown's leadership is being challenged by two ex-cabinet ministers. Audio

8:20 AM.Television New Zealand's sale of the rights to screen this year's Commonwealth Games shows the public's lack of interest in the Games and TVNZ's own diminished role in public broadcasting say industry… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.The Government says plans to train Singaporean fighter pilots in New Zealand will bring economic benefits. The defence contractor Lockheed Martin, which currently trains the pilots in France, still… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.New Zealand anti-whaling protestors and a Japanese security ship are both blaming each other for a collision near Antarctica that's torn the bow off the New Zealand boat. Audio

7:53 AM.Lieutenant Commander Lana Knaapen is posted with the Golan Observer Group, which is part of the UN Truce Supervision Operation along the Israeli and Syrian border. Audio

7:46 AM.Auckland's Hauraki Gulf is always busy with boats of various sizes chugging about. But for some of the people on the many islands dotting the gulf, the vessel Hauturu is essential in bringing them… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.If you're an urban dweller you may have seen people doing some unorthodox navigating of public spaces, opting to walk down hand rails and jumping from walls instead of using stairs. Audio

7:29 AM.Chris Cairns' London-based lawyer says the former cricket star may sue the Indian Premier League Commissioner and a cricket website to protect his standing within the game. Audio

7:26 AM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

7:20 AM.Singaporean Air Force fighter pilots may be trained in New Zealand under a deal being negotiated with the global defence contractor Lockheed Martin. Audio

7:12 AM.A disaster asessment team in Solomon Islands has visited the island of Rendova near to where two large earthquakes and several smaller ones struck this week. Audio

7:08 AM.New Zealand anti-whaling protestors and a Japanese vessel are both blaming each other for a collision near Antarctica that's left the New Zealand boat crippled. The New Zealand skipper Pete Bethune… Read more Audio

7:00 AM.Anti-whalers claim they were rammed by Japanese, Solomon Islands Police commissioner updates recovery efforts, Government says fighter pilot training would bring economic benefits, Payroll giving to… Read more Audio