Morning Report

It's time for New Zealanders to get out and spend cash like tourists.

That's the message from a new campaign in Canterbury.

It follows a separate survey that says two of every three businesses in the region suffered damaging financial harm during Alert Level 3.

Katie Todd reports.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

Wine regions are preparing for tougher times as a lack of overseas visitors creates a big hole in vineyard sales.

Many wineries plan to open with the shift to level two today.

As Jonathan Mitchell reports, some smaller operators are unsure whether they'll survive.

The end of Alert Level 3 will also mean the end to seven weeks of working from home for a number of people.

Work places are still required to maintain physical distancing for staff and some workers are just not comfortable with the idea of a return to the office.

Shared office space companies are working out how to get their areas functioning safely and hotels are allowing day rentals for people who fancy a change of scene, but aren't keen with embracing social interaction just yet.

Harry Lock has this report.

Top stories this morning We did it, New Zealand. Seven weeks of lockdown are over, the state of emergency's ended and you can now carefully burst your bubbles. It's back to work - so will it be back to traffic jams this morning? It's Budget Day today - the government's promising to invest in jobs and incomes and there's relief at the climbdown over tangi and funeral rules - fifty mourners will now be allowed

You think you're desperate for a haircut some are so keen they'll be watching as the clock ticks past 11:59pm.

At midnight, as soon as Level 2 officially begins, a Christchurch barber will open his door to his first customer since the lockdown.

Conrad Fitzgerald, owner of Cathedral Junction Barbers, has had at least fifty calls from people wanting a pre-dawn haircut.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Becky Manawatu's debut novel Auē pulled off a rare feat at last night's Ockham Book Awards, winning the country's top Fiction award as well as best first book of fiction.

The Westport based writer gave her acceptance speech via zoom during the Awards first online ceremony, surrounded by her whānau.

Among those she thanked were her cousins whose experences of violence and gang culture were woven into her novel about two orphaned and separated Māori brothers.

The Award judges praised Auē for its rawness and sadness, and its insights into the minds of children and young men. 

The Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction comes with a $55,000 award which Becky Manawatu hopes will allow her to keep writing.

Standing Room Only presenter Lynn Freeman spoke to Becky last night just after the announcement of her double award win.

While most of the country has been staying home for the last six weeks, some medical workers have had to make tough sacrifices to keep their families safe.

A Whangarei nurse made the decision at the beginning of the lockdown to send her three sons away to live with her parents so she could keep working without compromising their health.

Michelle Cunningham speaks to Susie Ferguson.

New Zealand's success in stifling the spread of the virus puts our screen industries in a unique position internationally, according to those within the sector.

Across the world, lockdowns have seen demand for films, series', e-sports, and games soar but productions have halted in many places.

Felicity Letcher is chair of the Screen Sector Covid-19 Action group, and says with a little help New Zealand could quicky revive a $3 billion industry, and could be in an enviable position to attract even more international interest in NZ's screen offerings and talents.