Morning Report

An Auckland business leader can see no reason why the country shouldn't move to level one this week.

Cabinet is today considering the move and the country should know by this afternoon whether almost all restrictions can be dropped.

Viv Beck, from the business lobby group Heart of the City, told RNZ reporter Jordan Bond unless there's something we don't know, the evidence points strongly towards a relaxation.

From Stuttgart to Seoul, from Paris to Pretoria, people have turned out to protest the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer two weeks ago.

Following on from widespread action last weekend, many have once again turned out, defying bans on assembly due to Covid-19.

For each country, they have used the moment not just to show solidarity with African Americans, but also to address their own country's past, and the racism which exists still.

In Mexico, protests turned violent, with demonstrators demanding justice for a construction worker, who was allegedly beaten to death in policy custody.

In the UK, while thousands went to the American embassy in London, in Bristol, a gathering of demonstrators have torn down the statue of Edward Colston - a seventeenth century slave trader.

They then dragged the statue - which has been the focus of much contention within the city - and threw it into the harbour.

The statue has been a feature of the city centre since 1895 - Colston also lends his name to the premium arts facility in the city, as well as a local grammar school.

Producer Harry Lock spoke to BBC West reporter Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The Education Ministry has stepped in to help schools track down students who have not returned to class since the lockdown ended.

It says attendance is pretty much back to normal, but there are a few schools where it is lagging.

The principal of Rowandale School, Karl Vasau, told RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen, his school is still missing about a 150 children.

SIS carried out clandestine raids in the 1980s; Sergei and Yulia Skripal reportedly in New Zealand; Child welfare system racist, brutal Maori mothers say; Three killed in Raetihi crash; More unrest in the United States.

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

While Covid-19 slowed the country to a standstill, one rehab centre has been kept busy.

The Central Energy Trust Wildbase recovery in Palmerston North has finally reopened its doors to the public - but some birds made it their home during lockdown.

Four Kereru, a little blue penguin and even one Kiwi are among the residents in recovery waiting to be released.

Charlotte Cook reports.

A long-time campaigner is bewildered that the forever-promised Katikati bypass has not made the cut for a shovel-ready project.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has had success in getting most of its proposed projects for the urgent funding through to the next stage - but not the bypass.

State Highway 2 cuts right through the middle of the town - effectively destroying its heart, says Katikati Taiao chairwoman Jenny Hobbs.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

There's been good news and bad for key players in the tourism sector this week. The government has announced support for strategic tourist assets.

It will provide $4m to Discover Waitomo and up to $20.2m for New Zealand's 31 regional tourism organisations.

Meanwhile, early modelling from Infometrics shows the GDP of tourism hotspot Queenstown declining by almost a quarter and close to 8000 jobs being lost in the coming year.

Grant Webster is chief executive of Tourism Holdings, which owns Discover Waitomo.

He's also co-chair of a new public-private tourism taskforce.

He speaks to Kim Hill.