Morning Report

Small tourism operators using Department of Conservation land say the department is refusing to reduce their fees, despite them losing nearly all their visitors.

Businesses who use DOC land have to pay a variety of fees, but with no one coming to visit the areas, they say they're struggling to come up with the funds.

At the same time the government is spending $400 million on a Tourism Recovery Fund to support businesses struggling in the wake of the pandemic.

Mary Hobbs and her husband Charlie operate glacier tours and a cafe at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park - but their pleas for reduced fees are being refused.

Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage speaks to Kim Hill.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The mayor of Kaikōura says $1.5 million of funding to support Whale Watch Kaikōura is fantastic news for the town. 

Making the announcement yesterday, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis said the company is a major drawcard to the region and supports hundreds of jobs and other sectors. 

The funding is part of the government's $400 million plan to help tourism businesses with the recovery after Covid-19. 

Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle speaks to Kim Hill.

In 100 days time, New Zealanders will wake up on a Saturday and be asked to choose the next government, whether to legalise cannabis and also whether to allow assisted dying.

Groups fighting on both sides of the issues say Covid-19 has blown their campaign plans apart.

Political reporter Yvette McCullough has more.

Further to our story yesterday about Auckland's Marist College removing Black Lives Matter posters.

Year 13 student Nia Cherrington stepped down as Marist College's cultural leader after teachers tore down Black Lives Matter posters she'd put up around the school.

She was joined yesterday by a number of her peers all voicing their concerns about alleged systemic racism at the Catholic girl's college.

Yesterday Marist College principal Raechelle Taulu said in a statement she was aware of "the concern our young people have about racism in our society and in the world.

"We stand with them in sharing the rejection of actions and attitudes that are racist and violent."

A statement in from the Board of Trusstees this morning:

"Our Board of Trustees and Senior Management met last night to discuss the issues raised in the last 24 hours. "It is agreed that our students have every right to be heard as this issue is very serious.

"Over the last week senior management has set up several ways to support students to discuss and learn about racism in our world as a school as the term progresses.

"As we are currently completing a formal investigation into issues raised with us and in the media, we can make no further comment at this time.

"We will be welcoming the support of the Catholic Diocese, proprietors of our school, to mediate a meeting with those that have raised issues and to address these matters."

A Māori Party co-leader is calling for an inquiry to identify and remove colonial monuments, statues and place names that symbolise racism and oppression. 

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says some of the most racist figures from New Zealand's colonial history are still honoured in this way. 

It follows protests in the US and the UK in recent weeks where controversial statues have been toppled. 

Ngarewa-Packer speaks to Corin Dann.

As the Police Commissioner in New Zealand touts the idea of the police using sponge bullets, in Denver, a lawsuit is taking place to get them banned.

Recent protest action across the US has led to many police departments making use of a range of weapons, including pepper spray, tear gas, flashbangs, as well as rubber bullets.

But in the Coloradan city, a judge is being asked to take immediate action to prevent the police department from continuing their use of such weapons.

It cites four protesters who say they have been negatively affected by them - including one woman who suffered facial fractures after being hit with a sponge grenade.

Lori Jane Gliha, a reporter for the news network FOX31 Denver, has been following the story and speaks to Corin Dann.

David Seymour is calling for Kiwis to be allowed to go to the Cook Islands, as the risk of either country exporting Covid-19 to each other drops.

The Cook Islands has never seen a case of Covid-19, and New Zealand has gone 19 days so far without seeing a new case.

Seymour speaks to Corin Dann.

A resort owner in Rarotonga is calling for New Zealand to reopen travel to the Cook Islands, before opening up to Australia.

The managing director of the resort chain says the Cook Islands would be the easiest place for New Zealand to open to and could serve as a test before opening up to the much larger trans-Tasman market.

The Cook Islands has not recorded a single case of the coronavirus.

A community leader in Rarotonga, Tere Carr, says local are keen to open up a Pacific travel bubble with New Zealand, provided Australia is not included.

Tata Crocombe is from the Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium.

Corin Dann asked if he was surprised that the Cook Islands weren't first cab off the rank when it came to New Zealand opening up the borders?

A group made up of electricity network companies and large consumers wants a decision on transmission pricing to be delayed.

The Transmission Pricing Group says the Electricity Authority should push out its decision by 12 months because of the Covid-19 recovery.

The authority has announced plans to make user-pays the basis of pricing power distribution, putting the cost of upgrades on to consumers who gain the most benefit.

Alan McDonald is spokesperson for those who want the authority to be reined in.