Morning Report

A high risk operation to recover the bodies of the people killed in Monday's Whakaari/White Island eruption was due to begin at daybreak on Friday.

Police say eight bodies are thought to be on the island but through aerial reconnaissance they have been able to spot only six.

Plans for the operation were outlined on Thursday night by the Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement.

RNZ reporter Ben Strang is at Whakatane Airport.

Batsman Marnus Labuschagne scored his third straight century, as Australia took advantage of a weakened New Zealand attack in fierce heat on the opening day of the first cricket test in Perth.

It's daybreak in Whakatane, a Defence Force team has already left or is about to leave on the mission to recover the eight bodies on Whakaari/White Island . 50 whanau, friends and locals have gathered for a karakia at the cordon at the Whakatane boat ramp. Police say the operation is not without risk as there is still a threat of an eruption. Stay listening we will have full coverage here on Morning Report.

The Black Caps begin their quest for a rare test series win in Australia this afternoon, when the three match series starts in the heat of Perth.

Temperature are expected to soar well into the 40s at a venue none of the New Zealand side has even played in before. New Zealand's only series win in Australia was back in 1984.

This time however the Black Caps have arrived in Australia ranked second in the world and on a run of seven unbeaten test series and with high hopes they can end the 35-year-long drought.

RNZ sports editor Stephen Hewson spoke to spinner Mitchell Santner about the challenges ahead - particularly the heat.

Big secondary schools are feeling short-changed by the government's staffing system and they want it reviewed.

They say the formula for allocating teachers leaves them with too few staff compared with smaller schools.

Principals say the problem is long-standing and it needs solving because the number of big schools is likely to grow.

RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen has more.

A building developer is asking for a cordon on its defective multi-storey block in the main shopping zone of Christchurch. Rockwell has asked the Christchurch City Council to cordon off a building it constructed.

The company says there is an outside chance the glass facade might shatter in a quake.

A government investigation has found ten major flaws with the building at 230 High Street.

Rockwell managing director Soung Joon Kim told reporter Phil Pennington it wants to get to the bottom of what went wrong, but in the meantime public safety must come first.

D-Day is looming for a decision on the new public broadcasting "super entity", with the final Cabinet meeting of the year on Monday.

If the Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi can lock down enough support ministers will consider a proposal to disestablish RNZ and TVNZ and create one, new public broadcaster.

RNZ political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Kim Hill.

Ian Foster is the new All Blacks head coach.

The 54-year-old was named yesterday afternoon in Auckland as the team's new head coach, replacing Steve Hansen who stepped down as planned following the All Blacks third place finish at the World Cup.

RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter has more.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson is promising a $12 billion boost to infrastructure over the next five years.

The announcement is part of a plan to counter slowing economic growth - with the latest opening of the government's books showing a deficit forecast for this financial year.

The National Party says the government inherited a massive surplus but has blown it in two years.

Paul Goldsmith is National's Finance Spokesperson.