Morning Report

The Government has earmarked $12 million in this year's budget to bolster security at the Maangere Refugee Resettlement Centre following the Christchurch Mosque attacks.

The Government is also investing $5 million to deal with extra claims for refugee and protected person status once border restrictions are lifted.

The Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway told RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver a security assessment was undertaken at the refugee resettlement centre following the 15 March attack.

This morning the consumer watchdog is lodging a complaint with the Commerce Commission over Air New Zealand's ongoing refusal to refund passengers from all its cancelled US flights.

The airline last month confirmed that people who had flights booked from or into the United States are entitled to a refund, in accordance with US law.

But Consumer NZ says it's still not refunding passengers who were to transit in the US, and is providing misleading information to people who want their money back.

Matthew Theunissen reports.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Over 1000 people flocked to Christchurch's Riccarton Bush farmers market at the weekend.

It was the first time in seven weeks farmers markets were allowed to open due to Covid 19 restrictions.

RNZ reporter Conan Young spoke to stallholder, Martin Aspinwall, from the Canterbury Cheese Mongers.

The Law Society says immigrants can be reassured that changes to urgent legislation will not used to disadvantage them.

The fast-tracked immigration bill passed through parliament in a week and became law on Friday.

The convenor of the Law Society's immigration and refugee committee, Mark Williams, was among those who made submissions to the Epidemic Response Committee.

He told RNZ immigration reporter, Gill Bonnett, that safeguards recommended by select committee MPs were incorporated into the bill.

Coronavirus: Schools ready for grand reopening; Coronavirus: Traffic back after lockdown; Figures show rising gun crime over two years; Coronavirus: Prime Minister on country reopening; Cellphone towers attacked due to conspiracy theories; Commerce Commission complaint laid over Air NZ refunds.

The National Aquarium in Napier could close within two years after the government signalled it won't help pay for a multimillion dollar renovation.

The government has refused Napier City Council's bid for an extra $500,000 towards developing a business case for a new $77 million facility, dashing hopes it would also fund nearly half the cost of the much needed rebuild.

The city's Mayor says ratepayers should not pick up the tab.

RNZ's Hawke's Bay reporter, Anusha Bradley, has the story.

Whānau Ora providers are skeptical the significant boost in funding announced in the budget will meet the huge demand from families doing it tough.

The government has topped up the Whānau Ora budget by $136 million over the next two years, with $53 million going to the Covid-19 response, and $73 million for the three commissioning agencies.

Meriana Johnsen reports.

Yesterday's Budget was touted as the jobs budget, but how to small business owners feel about it?

Steph Van Dusschoten runs Diveworks Charters in Whakatane and Matthew Bennett who owns Nibblish, a baked-fruit company in Havelock North.

They speak to Corin Dann.