Morning Report for Thursday 17 March 2011

8:57 AM.The West Coast is turning to the bottle - and it might just be the region's salvation. Audio

8:54 AM.The company taking over the Auckland Central Remand Prison at Mt Eden will be fined 150-thousand dollars for each prisoner escape or death in custody. Audio

8:52 AM.International police investigators have cracked down on what they say is the world's biggest child pornography network. Audio

8:48 AM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

8:45 AM.The Act MP, Hilary Calvert, has admitted that her comments made during the debate on the Marine and Coastal Area Bill were not the most elegant. Audio

8:38 AM.Scientists says tsunami waves from the Japan earthquake not only reached New Zealand but went on to be recorded in Antarctica. Audio

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

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:27 AM.The Finance Minister is confident the country can cope with a series of disasters economists say are the biggest shocks to the economy since the 1970s. Audio

8:23 AM.We're joined by the Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club's President, Dick Tayler. Audio

8:22 AM.Christchurch people are disappointed to lose the Rugby World Cup, but our reporter Rowan Quinn found out many believe there are far more important things for the city to be worrying about. Audio

8:19 AM.Yesterday the Minister for the Rugby World Cup Murray McCully announced Christchurch had lost the right to host its seven Cup matches because of the state of of the pitch and the stadium and some… Read more Audio

8:13 AM.The Japanese correspondent for Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, Julian Ryall has been north of Sendai City in the coastal towns of Ishinomaki and Minami-Sanriku. Audio

8:08 AM.In Japan, anger is growing over the official handling of the nuclear crisis threatening the Fukushima power plant. Audio

7:54 AM.The Maxim Institute is accusing the government of giving too much power to the courts with its new Regulatory Standards Bill. Audio

7:51 AM.Prince William will soon touch down in Christchurch for a visit to mark the South Island's two recent tragedies. Audio

7:48 AM.Christchurch school principals say the Ministry of Education has been putting them under unreasonable pressure to reopen their schools. Audio

7:45 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:41 AM.Forces loyal to the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, have launched an attack on Misrata, the last city still in opposition hands in western Libya. Audio

7:35 AM.Security forces in Bahrain have used tanks, tear gas, water cannons and helicopters to drive hundreds of anti-government demonstrators from their camp in Pearl Square, in the capital Manama. Audio

7:26 AM.Yesterday the Minister for the Rugby World Cup Murray McCully announced Christchurch had lost the right to host its seven Cup matches. Audio

7:16 AM.Joining us is nuclear physicist, Dr David Krofcheck from Auckland University who has been watching developments overnight. Audio

7:14 AM.The Prime Minister, John Key, says New Zealand search and rescue workers will stay in Japan - despite two being exposed to low level radiation yesterday. Audio

7:08 AM.There's growing international alarm about the crisis at a Japanese nuclear plant that was damaged by last week's earthquake and tsunami. Audio

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

6:41 AM.The Prime Minister is defending the time it took to confirm Christchurch would no longer play host to the Rugby World Cup, saying every option had to be exhausted first. Audio

6:38 AM.Survivors of last week's tsunami and earthquake are now enduring snow and freezing temperatures, as supplies begin to reach the worst affected areas. Audio

6:27 AM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

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

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

6:16 AM.While another part of Christchurch's inner-city cordon will be lifted today, with the reopening of streets to the north-west of the city's square mile, other inner city residents remain frustrated at… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.Japan continues to struggle to cool overheating reactor, Urban Search and Rescue team to remain in Japan, NZ nuclear physicist says not as bad as Chernobyl, Urban Search and Rescue team to remain in… Read more Audio