Morning Report

The demise of RNZ Concert has provoked strong opposition from classical music lovers and even the Prime Minister, but some say the attention it has garnered highlights major disparities in the arts sector.

RNZ wants to remove RNZ Concert from its FM frequencies, and replace it with a new youth radio station.

The plan has been met with fierce opposition, but iwi radio and other marginalised groups want the same level of urgency around their own survival.

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui reports.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

Domestic violence victims want the proposed changes to the laws for dividing property after divorce to take into account family violence.

RNZ spoke to women who have had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to abusive ex-husbands in the split of their property after divorce.

The Government is considering Law Commission recommendations to change the law - but some fear they do not go far enough.

The Law Commission's Deputy President and lead Commissioner is Helen McQueen.

The Government is being told it hasn't done enough to lift the country's poorest families out of poverty and many are still struggling to find secure housing.

The Salvation Army's annual State of the Nation report says while progress has been made to lift incomes, and unemployment is low, more change is needed.

RNZ social issues reporter Sarah Robson has the story - and a note, some names have been change to protect people's identities.

Parents of disabled children are telling the IHC they have had schools illegally refuse to enrol their children or set limits on how many hours they can go to school.

A new survey by the IHC also reveals indicates disabled children have only a 50-50 chance of getting a teacher who has the skills to support them in the classroom.

Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says Chinese borders are NOT closed to New Zealand logs, but there are problems with over supply, and logs backing up at Chinese ports,which means the demand for new logs is falling.

Forestry contractors warn 30 percent of New Zealand's logging crews are not harvesting as a result.

Government agencies are working on a support plan for the East Coast, which is being hit particularly hard.

Julie Collins is the Deputy Director-General Te Uru Rakau.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

The kuia who are taking a Waitangi Tribunal claim over Whānau Ora funding say they had a constructive meeting with the Prime Minister last night. 

Dames Tariana Turia, Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, and Naida Glavish, as well as Lady Tureiti Moxon and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait have been seeking an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the government's handling of Whānau Ora funding.

The Whānau Ora policy allows Māori to control the funding and delivery of social services through its three Māori-led commissioning agencies.

The former co-leader of the Māori Party and the creator of Whānau Ora, Dame Tariana Turia, was at the meeting.

Composure is the big positive for Black Caps captain Kane Williamson from their 3-nil one-day series victory over India.

RNZ's chief executive Paul Thompson was asked a blunt question yesterday: had he bungled announcements about the future of RNZ Concert and a new music channel for young listeners?

Not at all, he replied.

But although it now seems RNZ Concert will stay on the FM network, Thompson could give no guarantees about the future of presenters and other staff on the station.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, one of the vocal defenders of RNZ Concert, speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The government is stepping in to help farmers hit by a drought in Northland and parts of Auckland.

The Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says with a dry spell since November, and little rain forecast for the next couple of weeks, things are getting tough.

It's allocated $80,000 for technical advice, social welfare and eased tax requirements.

The minister speaks to Susie Ferguson.