Morning Report

New Zealand's live lobster industry is bouncing back after it was one of the first hit by Covid-19.

The industry is worth around $320 million annually, much of it sold to China.

Back on 24 January that all came to a halt when China shut down Chinese New Year celebrations and shut restraurants as the coronavirus spread.

Now flights of live lobsters exports have resumed to China.

Among those shipping the seafood again is the Fiordland Lobster Company.

Country Life producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes went to their Rolleston depot and spoke to its General manager of Sales and Marketing, Andrew Harvey.

Dairy farmers may have to tighten their purse strings, as they are due to get a lot less for their milk next year.

The dairy giant Fonterra has battled through the coronavirus pandemic, reporting a $300 million increase in earnings for the third quarter.

However, it's coming out of the extremely tough economic conditions it was dealt by asset sales, cost cutting and debt reduction.

The payout for the current season is expected to be between $7.10 and $7.30 per kilogram of milk solids.

Next year's outlook is worse for farmers, as they are forecast to get between $5.40 to $6.90 a kilogram.

Chris Lewis is the dairy spokesperson for Federated Farmers.

Four months out from the election the National Party has slumped in the polls and now the caucus must choose between a leader who's not well liked and the alternative who's not well-known.

Politics Professor Jennifer Curtin speaks to Kim Hill.

Students and teachers will be getting some Friday feeling today, as the first week back for schools draws to a close.

Attendance across the country on the first day was around 80 percent, although according to the Principals Federation, some schools were reporting as low as 30 percent.

Pupils are being told to use hand sanitiser and keep social distancing, but are they abiding?

Corin Dann speaks to Glen Denham, the Principal of Massey High School in West Auckland.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Level 2 has brought an end to seven weeks without any in-store retail therapy. Shops are taking up a large brunt of the contract tracing efforts - with registrations and bar codes present on entry to all stores.

Figures from Paymark over the first four days of Level 2 showed a dramatic increase in spending than over the lockdown, although it was still down on the same period last year.

But is that first weekend rush wearing off, or are retailers still up in their arms in sales?

Mel Garrity is the manager of the Timberland store in Sylvia Park.

Some of the biggest queues we're seeing under Alert Level 2 are outside hairdressers and barber shops.

Those with scissors and the shavers in hand are still social distancing rules - many wearing masks, and trying to avoid getting too close to their customers.

Christchurch and to Cathedral Junction Barbers opened up at midnight last Wednesday.

Owner Conrad Fitzgerald speaks to Corin Dann.

From the opening of restaurants, cafes and shops last Thursday, followed by the re-introduction of schools on Monday, and then the re-opening of bars last night, Level 2 is now fully operational.

So how has the week gone and what can we expect this weekend ?

Auckland bar operator Grady Elliot speaks to Kim Hill.

Bob Clarkson, a former National Party MP for Tauranga is still backing leader Simon Bridges as he heads into a challenge today.

Bridges will face off against Bay of Plenty leader Todd Muller in a fight for the leadership.

Clarkson speaks to Corin Dann.

In four hours the National party MPs will decide who will lead it into the September election.

But is there enough time to stage a comeback from the grim numbers in last night's poll?

On top of that, where does this leave National's only prospective coalition partner?

ACT leader David Seymour speaks to Kim Hill.