Morning Report

Paramedics from St John took charge of the evacuation of the injured from Whakaari/White Island.

Norma Lane is St John's director of operations.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Whakatāne mayor Judy Turner and Police Superintendent Bruce Baird have briefed media on the situation at Whakaari/White Island.

Police say eight people are still missing after Monday afternoon's volcanic eruption.

The latest information is 47 people were on the island, 31 are now in hospital, three have been discharged.

Five have been confirmed dead.

The countries of origin of those caught up in the explosion are Australia, US, UK, China and Malaysia as well as NZ tourists and tour operators.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Young people, Maori and single people are some of the most vulnerable people in the country because they are victims of repeat crime each year.

The Justice Ministry has just published its latest report from the Crime and Victim Survey - this looks at the 4 percent of people who experience nearly half of all crime each year - known as the "highly victimised" cohort.

Some of the crimes included in the report - an ambulance driver who was assaulted by drunk people, as well as a security worker who regularly gets assaulted every time he's at a big event.

Kim McGregor is the Chief Victims Advisor to the Government.

She told Jonathan Mitchell - she believes the data is just the tip of the iceberg.

Police say no survivors are expected to be found on Whakaari/White Island after yesterday afternoon's volcanic eruption.

Twenty-three people were rescued from the island off the Bay of Plenty coast - five later died from their injuries.

Police estimated up to 27 people had been left stranded on the island when rescue efforts were abandoned because of safety concerns.

Late last night they said they were still working to confirm the exact number.

RNZ reporter Andrew McRae is on the waterfront at Whakatāne.

Twenty-three people were rescued from the island off the Bay of Plenty coast after an eruption on Monday afternoon - five later died from their injuries.

Police estimated up to 27 people had been left stranded on the island when rescue efforts were abandoned because of safety concerns, late last night they said they were still working to confirm the exact number.

White Island Tours had a party on the island when it erupted. Its chairman Paul Quinn says "Devastation is an understatement. This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted."

Former Whakatāne mayor Tony Bonne has confirmed one of the company's guides, Hayden Marshall-Inman who he knew personally, is among the dead.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

Russia has been handed a four-year ban from all major sporting events by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

It means the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed at events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to compete under a neutral flag.

WADA's executive committee made the unanimous decision in a meeting in Switzerland.

RNZ's correspondent in Moscow is Ross Cullen.

Police believe there are no survivors on Whakaari/ White Island after an eruption yesterday and are working urgently to confirm the exact number of people who have died.

Twenty-three people were evacuated from the island after the eruption at 2:11pm yesterday, five of whom have since been confirmed dead.

Eight people are still missing, including New Zealanders and overseas tourists, some of whom were from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship.

Professor Shane Cronin is a volcanologist from the University of Auckland.

He speaks to Kim Hill.