Morning Report for Thursday 20 October 2011

8:54 AM.British police in riot gear have removed residents from Dale Farm in Essex - the UK's largest so-called travellers site. Audio

8:51 AM.Residents on Motiti Island say they would rather die than leave their home, even if they are unable to solve the problem of oil washing up on their beaches from the stranded Rena. Audio

8:47 AM.Government officials are holding back on releasing public views on the Early Childhood Education Taskforce's recommendations, on Te Kohanga Reo National Trust Board; The Northland Regional Council… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.They escaped from an exotic animal park near the city of Zanesville after the man who looked after them died. Audio

8:39 AM.The warnings, or lack of them from the government's scientists about the likely size of aftershocks following the first Canterbury earthquake have been a focus of the Royal Commission into the quakes.

8:35 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:25 AM.The All Blacks admit that they've been swept up with the support New Zealand is showing to them and the World Cup tournament. Audio

8:22 AM.If you're feeling nervous as the All Blacks Rugby World Cup semi-final draws near, you're not alone. Audio

8:21 AM.The New Zealand Drug Foundation is welcoming a court that will deal solely with drug offences but wonders if there will be the resources to help vulnerable people. Audio

8:17 AM.The government is at odds with Auckland Council's blueprint for the future. Audio

8:15 AM.Better weather is forcast for today in the Bay. Audio

8:12 AM.Work on pumping oil from the stricken container ship Rena should resume today as the weather in Tauranga continues to improve. Audio

8:09 AM.A 48-year-old Central Hawke's Bay man is in a stable condition in hospital after being shot by police early this morning. Audio

7:55 AM.In Athens, there have been violent clashes between protestors and police at a rally of thousands in front of the Greek parliament. Audio

7:51 AM.A study out today says giving pharmacists a bigger role in managing medicines for some patients improves care and saves money. Audio

7:47 AM.Members of the Australian and Welsh sides say it may be hard to rise to the occasion for tomorrow's Rugby World Cup bronze final - dubbed "the losers final" by some. Audio

7:44 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:39 AM.The number of students expelled from school has hit a ten-year high, with more than one third of the cases due to drugs. Audio

7:35 AM.Forget night courts, Auckland is to have a drug court. Audio

7:28 AM.In Ireland, a major bookmaker is so certain New Zealand will win the Rugby World Cup final, it's already started paying out on bets. Audio

7:24 AM.The Prime Minister says he can't rule out a credit downgrade by ratings agency Moody's. Audio

7:21 AM.A 48-year-old Central Hawke's Bay man is in a stable condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital after being shot by police early this morning. Audio

7:17 AM.The fate of the Rena disaster is being used by those opposed to deep sea drilling protesters to push their cause. Audio

7:13 AM.With us is the spokesperson for the Svitzer Salvage company, Matthew Watson. Audio

7:09 AM.Improving weather means work is likely to resume on pumping oil from the Rena today. Audio

6:47 AM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:36 AM.Clean up efforts will soon be underway along the Bay of Plenty coast, as oil and debris from the Rena spreads further and further east. Audio

6:27 AM.The Northland Regional Council says it wants to help eliminate the negative statistics that have dragged Maori down by improving better iwi representation on the authority; Government officials are… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:18 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:09 AM.Flotsam and oil from the Rena is now washing up on beaches as far east as Waihau Bay, the East Coast setting for the hit movie Boy. Audio

6:00 AM.Salvage workers closely monitoring crack in Rena's hull, Svitzer gives update on salvage efforts on Rena, Rena disaster directs spotlight toward oil opposition, Hawke's Bay man shot by police, Labour… Read more Audio