Morning Report

A new unemployment benefit for people who lost work because of Covid-19 is being criticised as unfair and discriminatory.

The new payment, announced yesterday, will give up to $490 a week to people who have lost their jobs in recent weeks.

The existing jobseeker benefit for people over 25 is currently set at a maximum of $250 after tax.

Mackenzie Smith reports.

The British prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings has said he does not regret driving 260 miles from London during the Coronavirus lockdown. He revealed he had not told Boris Johnson when he decided to take his family to County Durham after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms. Addressing the media in the last couple of hours, he said he made the decision to drive up to Durham after his wife started showing symptoms of coronavirus, and he was worried about what to do with his son as none of their childcare options were available. While at Durham, he came down with the virus as well. He was spotted at the market town of Barnard Castle later - about a half-hour's drive from his Durham residence - later on in the week. Alastair Campbell, former director of communications to Tony Blair and now the editor at large for The New European, speaks to Susie Ferguson.

It's been hailed as a bold, dramatic and brave move.

Yesterday it was announced that the chief executive of Stuff has bought the company for $1 and has plans for staff shareholders.

Sinead Boucher told RNZ it was time for lateral thinking.

The editor of the Timaru Herald, Brooke Black, says keeping regional papers going is crucial. But what does it all mean for the New Zealand media landscape?

Colin Peacock presents RNZ's Mediawatch.

News that gatherings can be attended by up to 100 people from this Friday has been welcomed throughout the country.

From wedding planners to funeral directors, there's been a big sigh of relief that the government now believes it is safe for larger numbers of people to be together at the same time.

There's hope that even fewer restrictions are not far away with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying the limits will be looked at again in a fortnight and moving to Alert Level 1 will be considered on June 22nd.

Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield speaks to Corin Dann.

Blind people are slamming the Government for releasing a contact tracing app they can't use.

They say the Covid Tracer app launched six days ago lacks even the most basic functions to let low vision people know where a QR Code poster is, and whether they've scanned in or not.

The ministry defends itself by saying a blind IT expert praised the app - but that same expert says he also told health officials three times that it is unusable.

RNZ's Phil Pennington reports.

The Greens have accused Labour of breaking a core promise to overhaul the welfare system - a commitment made in the two parties' written agreement to form a government.

The gripe comes after a chorus of frustration from those on the left who say the government has entrenched a cruel and dehumanising two-tier welfare system in its lastet response to the Covid-19 crisis.

RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Wedding planning will get a bit easier after the Government announced restrictions on the number of people gathering will ease slightly.

The number of people allowed to be together in one place will rise from 10 to 100 from noon on Friday.

It's news Christchurch wedding planner Emma Newman has been waiting to hear.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

There will be many worshippers who are eager to return to churches, mosques and temples once the limit on gatherings rises to 100 people at midday on Friday.

Clay Nelson is the reverend of the Auckland Unitarian Church.

Tangihanga and hui have been severely affected by limits on the number of people allowed to gather.

They had been subject to a limit of 10, then tangihanga were allowed 50 people present, and now from Friday all gatherings will be allowed a maximum of 100.

Rangi Maclean from Manurewa marae speaks to Corin Dann.

It will be party time this Friday with people allowed to get together in groups of up to 100 for the first time in months.

The new Covid-19 rule will come into effect at midday and it's being met with excitement, trepidation and also disappointment.

RNZ's Matthew Theunissen reports.