Morning Report

Mark Brown, the deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of the Cook Island's has called for the country's recent status of "developed nation" to be revoked, to help the country access funds to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

There have also been calls for the Cook Islands to be included in New Zealand's expanding post-Covid-19 bubble.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website says tourism is the main driver of growth to the Cook Islands economy - and about 60 percent of tourists are from New Zealand, and more than 10 percent from Australia.

Brown speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The nurses organisation is calling for Worksafe to investigate how seven nurses caught Covid-19 at Waitakere Hospital.

They caught the virus after infected residents from St Margarets rest home were moved to the hospital.

A review into how the first three nurses caught the disease- has found the hospital was ill prepared for the patients and staff were using broken or poorly fitting protective clothing.

RNZ's Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

It's the first morning of Alert Level 2 after nearly seven weeks of strict lockdown protocols in New Zealand.

This means most people can go back to work with almost all businesses except for bars allowed to open.

However, physical distancing still applies.

We've sent our reporters out into the streets throughout the country as we did at the start of Alert Level 4, and the shift to Level 3.

They're back out now to see what it's like at Alert Level 2.

Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult is gearing up to welcome Alert Level 2 and easing of travel restrictions with an iconic Kiwi activity to start to the morning - a Bungy Jump.

Queenstown Lakes has been one of the hardest hit regions in the country with thousands of people seeking welfare support since late March.

Boult hopes domestic tourism will help the resort town begin to bounce back.

Tourism reporter Tess Brunton is at AJ Hackett Bungy at Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown where Boult is preparing to jump.

The inhabitants of New Zealand's zoos have gone without their usual stream of visitors for the past seven weeks.

That's set to change, as zoos and wildlife parks reopen under Alert Level 2.

Wellington Zoo opens on Monday, and entry will be free until the end of June. Karen Fifield is the chief executive of Wellington Zoo.

It's been a difficult seven weeks for many New Zealanders during the nationwide lockdown. But for Dave Finlay, a homeless man living out of his car in Wellington, it's been particularly difficult.

Talking face to face with social services is off limits while public facilities for showering or cleaning clothes are currently shut.

He told RNZ reporter Ben Strang he's staying upbeat and the lockdown should help people appreciate the little things in life.

Government ministers were forced into a climbdown over tangi and funeral rules which initially restricted attendees to a maximum of ten people at a time.

It is now set at 50 people, but the funeral director must submit a plan to show they can mitigate health risks.

Minister of Civil Defence and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Government ministers were forced into a climbdown over tangi and funeral rules which initially restricted attendees to a maximum of ten people at a time.

It is now set at 50 people, but the funeral director must submit a plan to show they can mitigate health risks.

Directors say they could have managed 100 people, but in the meantime some families could say their farewells with two or even three funerals.

Jordan Bond reports.

Authorities now have sweeping powers to enforce Covid-19 restrictions.

Legislation - pushed through under urgency - passed its final reading in Parliament last night with the National Party and ACT voting against.

Among other things, the law allows police to enter a person's home without a warrant to shut down large gatherings. Dr Eddie Clark is a public law expert at Victoria University of Wellington.

He speaks to Corin Dann.