Morning Report

MPs sat late into the evening last night debating critical legislation which will grant extraordinary powers to both the Government and police to combat Covid-19.

The proposed law allows authorities to enforce the conditions under Alert Level 2 and Alert Level 1 - even after the state of emergency across the country is lifted.

Notably, the Health Minister will be given the ability to issue orders backed up by fines or even imprisonment.

Police will enforce the orders and will be allowed to enter premises without a warrant to do so - for example, to shut down illegal gatherings.

An employment law advocate says employers need reminding work rights have not changed because of the coronavirus crisis.

Thousands of people have lost their jobs and many more are expected to be made redundant in the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdown and border closure.

Ashleigh Fechney is warning businesses the laws on firing staff have not been torn up.

She told RNZ reporter Gill Bonnett that immigrants who may be facing dismissal - including hundreds of work visa holders locked out by the border closure - also need to know their rights

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

Community Housing Aotearoa is calling for a multi-billion dollar budget spend on housing in the wake of Covid-19.

It says investing in housing will stimulate the economy, support the construction industry and transform the lives of those in insecure housing.

Its chief executive Scott Figenshow spoke to RNZ housing reporter Eva Corlett.

Children will face a new set of playground rules and classroom practices when they return to school on Monday.

Principals are figuring out how to apply the level two regulations to things like lunchtime games, school assemblies and drinking fountains.

Stephen Lethbridge from the Auckland Primary Principals' Association told RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen, the Education Ministry understands schools won't be able to maintain physical distancing all the time.

Parliament continues in urgency this morning as MPs debate giving new extraordinary powers to the Government to combat Covid-19.

The prime minister advised couples hoping to tie the knot soon to wait a while.

Alert level 2 allows them to go ahead, but with a limit on gatherings of no more than 10 people.

Paula Bevege is a wedding and event planner. She speaks to Corin Dann

Gatherings on marae will be affected at Alert Level 2. With a ten-person cap on the number of people who can take part, it won't be business as usual.

Christine Panapa is a past president of the Maori Women's Welfare League and chairperson of Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland.