Morning Report

West Aucklanders rally to support their local police as they come to terms with the killing of a young constable. Covid-19 cases among those returning to New Zealand continue to climb, with at least one more revealed last night. Tik-Tok users and K-Pop fans claim to be behind the smaller than expected turnout at Donald Trump's campaign rally. The Maori Party puts an affirmative action programme at the centre of its campaign to get back into Parliament.

It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

As the world marks the inaugural World Albatross Day - not all is going well for the birds.

Forest and Bird say four very endangered Antipodean albatross were killed when accidentally caught up by a fishing boat in March.

They say what's particularly concerning is the boat was fishing within the guidelines - showing the standards are not working to protect the species.

Sue Maturin is the Otago Southland regional manager at Forest and Bird.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Professional netball is back with the resumption of the ANZ Premiership in Auckland tonight.

The 10-week elite domestic league becomes the first professional women's sporting competition in the southern hemisphere to return to action in front of fans, since the start of the global Covid-19 lockdown in March.

Tonight the Mystics, and the Magic face off at the Auckland Netball Centre but only friends and family will be court side.

Netball correspondent Bridget Tunnicliffe speaks to Corin Dann.

A Canterbury farming couple has set up a lucrative side business after being frustrated at the lack of merino jersey options for their children's school uniforms.

Carl and Tori Uren produce cross-bred wool on their farm at Le Bons Bay on Banks Peninsula.

They now have a business which supplies merino uniforms to more than 50 schools.

Country Life producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes has more.

A plan to build up to 700 homes in part of a quiet Nelson valley has stunned local residents.

News of the proposed Mahitahi/Bayview development first emerged a couple of weeks ago.

Conservation group Friends of the Maitai is already driving a social media campaign against it, while the developer claims the design will enhance the area.

Nelson reporter Tracy Neal has the story.

A gun register may be delayed for three years but Gun Control New Zealand is still claiming it as a victory.

New legislation passed yesterday paving the way for the register and a warning system to show if a licence holder is a fit and proper person. The nationwide register won't come into force until 2023.

Hera Cook, a public health researcher at Otago University and member of Gun Control NZ, says it's a win for gun control.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Professional netball is back with the resumption of the ANZ Premiership in Auckland tonight.

Friends and family of the players are the only ones allowed in to watch court-side at the Auckland Netball Centre.

Tonight and tomorrow's games are shut to the general public while players and organisers thank families and sponsors for sticking with the competition during the three-month break.

Fans around the country will get a chance to attend home games from 30 July. 

Felicity Reid reports.

Otago will face the biggest economic struggle of any region in the post-pandemic recovery.

Westpac's latest roundup of the economic outlook for the regions has found all regions will experience a deep recession and rising unemployment this year.

The report says Otago, which relies heavily on tourism, will be the hardest hit region and will likely be the slowest to recover.

Jim Boult is the mayor of Queenstown.