Morning Report

Schools are caring for thousands of foreign teenagers who came to New Zealand to study and now cannot leave.

Principals say some international students want to go home, but could not get seats on repatriation flights and about 600 are due to finish their studies in July.

They say most are happy to stay, but some are worried they won't be able to return home at the end of the year.

RNZ's education correspondent, John Gerritsen, reports.

RNZ employee Chris Reid was at Waikanae station when the quake struck.

But now all the trains have been stopped.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Horowhenua District Council's mayor Bernie Wanden says the region received a really good shake this morning.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck just before 8am centred 30 kilometres northwest of Levin.

Wanden speaks to Susie Ferguson.

There are calls for the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to sack his top advisor, Dominic Cummings, for travelling cross-country while sick with the coronavirus.

It follows accusations, which he denies, that he breached lockdown rules by travelling several hundred kilometres to see his parents when he and his wife had coronavirus symptoms.

Senior government ministers are defending Mr Cummings who was a central figure in both securing Brexit and Mr Johnson's victory at the last election.

But today there are further alleged breaches of the rules and several normally loyal Conservative MPs are calling for his resignation.

London correspondent Vincent McAviney speaks to Corin Dann.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake was felt across the lower North Island on Monday morning.

Davey Hughes from Swazi Clothing in Levin told our reporter Katie Doyle it's been the biggest quake he's ever felt in the town.

He spoke to RNZ reporter Katie Doyle about it.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

First-term MP Chlöe Swarbrick has been propelled up the Green Party's list to sit just behind the two co-leaders and ahead of the ministers.

The party's candidate ranking - published this morning - was decided by a full membership vote.

Ms Swarbrick is ranked third - ahead of Women's Minister Julie Anne Genter, Justice under-secretary Jan Logie, and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

With only two new cases of Covid-19 over the past seven days is it time to lighten Alert Level 2 restrictions?

Today Cabinet is expected to consider increasing the size of gatherings from the current limit of 10.

RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen has been talking to people about how Level 2 is working and whether it's time to shift to a lower gear.

A large magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled the lower North Island just before 8am on Monday.

While it was widely felt, it is too small to cause a Tsnami risk.

GNS duty seismologist, John Ristau speaks to Corin Dann.

The New National Party leader Todd Muller is wasting no time putting his stamp on the party's front bench with a caucus reshuffle that would be revealed as early as today. Muller took over the leadership, along with new deputy Nikki Kaye on Friday after a swift contest last week. Kaye speaks to Susie Ferguson.