Morning Report

A significant earthquake has been felt across the lower North Island on Monday morning.

The magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit just before 8am and was centred 25km north of Levin at a depth of 46km.

RNZ reporter Katie Scotcher is in Foxton just north of Levin.

From August, anyone will be able to build a shed, carport or sleep-out without forking out for or waiting on resource consent. The work must still be up to code.

The government says the move will free local governments from having to assess up to 9000 consents a year, and save DIY-ers up to $18 million in fees.

Chief executive of the Registered Master Builders Association David Kelly speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Hawkes Bay has only had a quarter of its expected rain fell in the region over the past six months.

Jim Galloway is Hawkes Bay Provincial President of Fed Farmers

There has been heavy or steady rain in many parts of the country, ending months of drought.

That includes Northland, that was the first of the drought sufferers, Waikato and above all in dehydrated Hawkes Bay, where heavy rain has been falling.    

Significant rain has also fallen or is forecast in many other parts of the country, such as also dry Wairarapa, and part of the East Coast of the South Island.

There is a heavy rain warning for the Nelson Tasman and Buller regions.  

Chris Brandolino is a meterologist for National Insitute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Just a single case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the past week, and 97 percent of all those infected have now recovered. Cabinet is meeting today, and will discuss whether the rules around gatherings should be relaxed.

So what do these numbers tell us?

Are we prepared to identify and treat a secondary wave of infections?

Infectious Disease expert Dr Siouxsie Wiles speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The government is attempting to jump-start economic activity in the regions by bringing forward more than $600 million in spending from its Provincial Growth Fund.

Millions have been promised for water management projects and transport upgrades, as well as $70 million to maintain marae, community halls, Pasifika churches and war memorials.

Spending the money sooner will mean that some projects earmarked for funding later on will miss out.

Minister of Regional Economic Development Shane Jones speaks to Corin Dann.

Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been met with tear gas and water cannons by police, as a new wave of protests has erupted in the semi-autonomous territory.

The protesters took to the streets to oppose China's plan to ban what it calls subversion and sedition with a new national security law.

Critics have warned the law would undermine the "one country, two systems" principle that was agreed upon when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Beijing correspondent Patrick Fok speaks to Corin Dann.

Cabinet will meet today to decide whether a further loosening of restrictions is in order, following a week that saw a single new case of the virus confirmed.

So should we expect a change to the 10 person limit on gatherings?

Can we avoid the experience of countries overseas, who followed early success with waves of secondary infection?

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Susie Ferguson.

There's been a dramatic spike in the number of Wellington children in hospital with the dangerous disease rheumatic fever.

A public health alert has been issued, with Covid-19 testing centres ordered to swab any children at risk.

Case numbers are up across the whole country, with the lockdown possibly a factor.

RNZ's health correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.

New National Party leader Todd Muller is wasting no time putting his stamp on the party's front bench with a caucus reshuffle expected to be unveiled today.

It's understood Muller spent last night contacting MPs to tell them their fate, keen to put the matter to rest before Tuesday's regular caucus meeting.

Jane Patterson is RNZ's Political Editor.