Morning Report

The death toll from Samoa's measles epidemic has risen to 72 people.

Most of the dead are preschoolers and babies since the country's outbreak was declared in mid-October.

Samoa's government says the official number of people with measles is just under 4,995 with 75 new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

Jenny Meyer reports.

Surgical mesh patients have spoken of the terrible pain inflicted on them - and the way they were dismissed by the health system - in a new report.

Hundreds of people who have been injured by surgical mesh implants gone wrong have told their stories to restorative justice hearings led by Victoria University on behalf of the health ministry.

A report from the hearings has made nineteen recommendations - including that that ACC review all the surgical mesh cases it has declined.

But some patients are skeptical, as RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.

The Tuia 250 voyage of the replica of James Cook's Endeavour will complete its ten week journey around the country this weekend, finishing up in Māhia on Sunday.

The voyage commemorates 250 years since Cook and Tahitian chief and navigator Tupaia arrived in 1769, and it also recognises the Pacific voyagers who reached Aotearoa many years earlier.

A closing ceremony will take place at Ruahuru Marae in Mahia on Tuesday.

Dame Jenny Shipley is the Tuia 250 co-chair. She speaks to Corin Dann.

Police have confirmed they have landed a helicopter on Whakaari/White Island and the recovery mission is moving forward.

RNZ reporter Ben Strang is at the airport.

He speaks to Kim Hill.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

Of the 47 people on White Island when it erupted on Monday, 38 were passengers on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.

Several are among those confirmed dead.

Another 28 are being treated at hospitals throughout the country or have already been transferred to hospitals in Australia.

After being temporarily delayed in Tauranga, Ovation of the Seas has now reached Picton.

ABC journalist Donna Field is onboard.

Helicopter pilot and owner of Kahu NZ, Mark Law, was one of the pilots who rescued people after the eruption.

He has been involved in planning the recovery mission, sharing what he knows about the island, where the bodies are and what the flying conditions are like.

Mark Law told Kim Hill on Friday morning he is on standby to help out if needed.

A group of Whakatane charter fishmen anxiously waiting for eight bodies to be recovered from Whakaari-White Island were talked out of trying to take matters into their own hands.

They were warned by police at a private briefing that a single breath of the toxic gases on the island could be lethal and any attempt by them to retrieve the bodies could hinder formal identifcation.

Robin Martin has more.

The operation to recover eight bodies on Whakaari/White Island is underway.

Moments after speaking to Kim Hill RNZ reporter Ben Strang noticed more people arriving at the airport and a helicopter taking off.

He spoke again to Kim Hill.

A recovery mission is underway on Whakaari/White Island.

RNZ reporter Robin Martin is at the White Island Tours office.

He speaks to Corin Dann.