Morning Report

Artists, musicians and actors say the entertainment industry will fall into crisis if it can't open up again soon.

People in the arts are often placed front and centre of charity work for others suffering times of crisis. But now the creatives themselves are calling for help, pleading for support as live performances, filming and exhibitions all dry up.

Eleisha Foon reports.

An Education Ministry study has found strong evidence poor communities are losing some of their best students to schools in richer areas.

It says enrolment zones and school choice enable "cream-skimming" and are concentrating disadvantage in poor schools.

Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen.

A 19-year old man has been arrested in Tonga in connection with the death of Salvation Army leader Ned Cook, who was attacked near his home in Nuku'alofa on Friday.

Mr Cook was an outspoken advocate for the rehabilitiation of drug users in in Tonga, where the use of methamphetamines is growing.

RNZ Pacific correspondent Kalafi Moala speaks to Corin Dann.

A passenger on a flight from Auckland to Christchurch last Thursday says the lack of spare seats was an unwelcome surprise.

William Howard was travelling south on an Air New Zealand flight to visit a friend in Christchurch, but he says every row he could see was taken up, and no passengers were able to distance from each other.

On the airline's website, it says they will be allocating seating to allow an empty seat between customers travelling alone, although families will be able to stay together.

A picture taken by Mr Howard shows that the allocated free space in his row had been taken up by a person.

He spoke with reporter Mackenzie Smith about the flight.

Official figures show mental health or distress is a factor in almost a quarter of police dog bites that need hospital treatment.

The police have defended the numbers, saying dogs are never used lightly; but advocates say the trauma exacerbates an already delicate situation.

Timothy Brown has more.

MedSafe has won praise for moving quickly to make a herbal remedy which claims to be a treatment for Covid-19 only available on prescription.

As of this week artemisia annua extract is will no longer be able to be sold on pharmacy shelves or online.

Medicines New Zealand, which represents pharmaceutical companies, says MedSafe was right to make the move.

Medicines New Zealand CEO Dr Graeme Jarvis speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

As children return to school this week it may come as a surprise to learn their experience is remarkably similar to that of their forebears almost a hundred years ago.

New Zealand health authorities issued immunity passports, shut down schools nationwide and quarantined those with a new virus - polio - during epidemics in the early 1900s.

It was a similar story in later decades, when many schools shut down for weeks at a time to prevent polio outbreaks from spreading.

Amy Williams interviewed her grandmother to file this report.

The stress is continuing to grow for redundant Queenstown workers as reduced rents return to normal.

Between 8000 and 10,000 jobs have been lost in the resort town and more are expected to go in the coming weeks and months.

Tourism reporter Tess Brunton is in Queenstown.

Closing New Zealand's borders to anyone but residents to clamp down on Covid-19, has also cut-off more than 90 percent of visitors to Rotorua's oldest tourism business, The Whakarewarewa Village.

Ngati Wahiao has opened its doors to tourists for more than 120 years, offering tours of the geothermal landscape and cultural experiences.

But things are expected to look a lot different when the village finally re-opens.

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explains.