Morning Report

South Sudan's vice president, Riek Muchar and his wife, Angelina Teny have both tested positive for the coronavirus. There are now 290 cases of Covid-19 in South Sudan, and four people have died.

Cases have been detected in two overcrowded camps which house internally displaced people.

Former Labour leader David Shearer is the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan.

He told RNZ Worldwatch reporter Annabel Reid, the coronavirus is adding yet more strain on a health system that's already in a desperate state.

Why is the Canterbury DHB building a new medical block against its own doctors' advice? The stakes are raised in the battle for the National Party leadership, Millions are hunkering down in India and Bangladesh as Cyclone Amphan makes landfall

An annual camp aimed at encouraging young women and gender non-binary youth to get involved in music will go online this year.

In its offline form, Girls Rock sees attendees form bands and then work towards performing an original song in a concert for friends and families.

Now the organizers of Girls Rock! Pōneke are planning a version of the camp that will try to replicate the experience digitally in July.

 

Ali Burns is a camp co-ordinator.

Art collectors gathered in Auckland last night to bid on works by some of New Zealand's top painters.

It is thought to be the first face to face auction to be held since Covid-19 restrictions were put in place around the world.

For sale at the The International Art Centre in Parnell were works by Colin McCahon, CF Goldie and Michael Smither. Smither's "Cris Cricket meets Buzzy Bee" painting went under the hammer for $120,000.

International Art Centre director Richard Thomson speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Christchurch's iconic council owned red buses could be about to be sold off to the highest bidder.

City councillors have been discussing putting them on the market behind closed doors as the council grapples with the prospect of a lower rates take due to Covid-19 business closures.

At the same time there are calls for a 0 percent rates increase.

Conan Young reports.

How many local visitors will it take to save tourism companies from shutting their doors and laying off staff?

That was the question that hung over Jacinda Ardern's visit to tourism operators in Rotorua yesterday, with the possibility of new public holidays raised as an incentive to get New Zealanders to pack their bags.

Even if holidaymakers do take to the road in droves, domestic travel is unlikely to make up for the $17 billion that international travel injects into the economy each year.

Steve Chadwick is the mayor of Rotorua Lakes Council.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The Auckland Council has asked all staff earning more than $100,000 a year to consider taking a pay cut.

The council says a six month salary reduciton would help mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19.

Council staff earning between $100,000 and $175,000 dollars have been asked to consider a 5 percent cut, those earning up to $275,000 a 7.5 cut.

The council has also announced it will conduct a review of its permanent workforce, which it anticipates will lead to job losses.

Mayor Phil Goff speaks to Corin Dann.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

One of the most common symptoms of Covid 19 - a sore throat - is not listed on the card everyone must fill-in before being allowed into the country.

The card is a crucial part of the country's Covid-19 border controls and authorities are under attack for getting it so wrong.

Phil Pennington reports.

We may only recently have entered Alert Level 2, but attention is already shifting to what Alert Level 1 might look like and when we might get there.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expected to give some hints at today's briefing.

So what might a safe time to move look like?

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago speaks to Susie Ferguson.