Morning Report

The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders can get to international travel without packing their passport.

Located more than 800 kilometres east of the South Island, the remote territory is heavily reliant on air travel to deliver tourists that figure large in its economy.

The Chathams were largely cut off from the rest of the country when lockdown saw non-essential flights halted during peak tourist season.

Flights have only recently resumed under level two Alert Level 2, and tourism operators are desperate to see visitors return.

Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

The creation of new public holidays could be one way to aid the sickly tourism industry.

During a visit to Rotorua yesterday the Prime Minister said she was considering the idea, along with other ways of encouraging New Zealanders to get out and spend up.

But are employers well-placed to pay for extra leave at a time when many businesses are themselves precariously placed?

Chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association Brett O'Riley speaks to Corin Dann.

The future National Party leadership will be decided at Parliament next Tuesday.

Simon Bridges has admitted his leadership will be on the line next week when a vote for both the leadership and Paula Bennett's deputy will be held.

Bridges' position is under increasing threat after a Newshub-Reid Research poll showed support for National had dropped to 30.6 percent.

RNZ political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Commerical pilots in New Zealand want masks to be required on airplanes.

This follows the International Air Transport Association recommending compulsory face coverings for passengers and crew, combined with measures such as temperature checks at airports.

Some airlines are now providing passengers with masks, but not Air New Zealand.

Captain Andrew Ridling is president of the New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

The Deputy Prime Minister says he knows who leaked private information about him but won't reveal who that is. Winston Peters is going to appeal the High Court decision over the leak of his pension details.

He says he is going back to court on behalf of all people who have had their privacy breached.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Victim support advocates says the Ministry of Justice cannot ignore the alarming results from the country's largest crime survey and must take radical action.

The survey, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, found that 94 percent of sexual assaults go unreported, and almost a quarter of people experience one or more sexual assault in their lifetime.

It also revealed that women are three times more likely than men to have experienced sexual assault.

Justice Minister Andrew Little speaks to Corin Dann.

Simon Bridges has confirmed he's facing a challenge from two MPs after a dreadful poll result.

The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll put the National Party on 30.6 percent, with Labour gobbling up 56.5 percent of the vote.

On Tuesday it was reported National MPs are getting ready to roll him and on Wednesday morning Bridges confirmed he was facing a challenge along with his deputy leader Paula Bennett.

He vowed the matter will be resolved by Tuesday May 26 at the latest.

Bridges speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The National Party leader Simon Bridges is facing a slew of criticism over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a disastrous poll out this week has some calling for his resignation.

The latest political poll has National with just 30.6 percent support and in the preferred Prime Minister's stakes Bridges is on 4.5 percent.

At the same time Labour and Jacinda Ardern are enjoying a huge surge in popularity.

RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen has been sounding out support for Bridges, beginning in his Tauranga electorate.

The Government's new coronavirus contact tracing app is now up and running.

It comes ahead of today's announcement by the Prime Minister about what Alert Level 1 might look like and how we will get there.

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

Almost one in four of people have suffered sexual violence in their lifetime but only a tiny fraction (6%) of incidents are being reported to the police.

That's one shocking headline revealed by the country's largest survey of crime - released today by the Ministry of Justice.

Women are found to be three times more likely than men to have experienced a sexual assault.

Ben Strang reports.