Morning Report

Churches and other places of worship will be able to open their doors on Thursday.

A limit of 10 people for on gatherings outside of the home has quashed hopes for a return to the traditional Sunday service.

The government previously suggested that up to 100 people would be allowed to gather under Alert Level 2.

Chris Bethwaite is the National Administrator for the Elim Church of New Zealand.

Under Level 2, domestic travel will once again be allowed, including for tourism.

That's very welcome news for Rotorua, where tourism is the city's largest employer.

Steve Chadwick is the mayor of Rotorua.

Yesterday's announcement was disappointing news for the live music scene.

Under the Level 2 rules there should be no more than 100 in the venue and bars can't reopen until a week after the rest of the country.

Peter Campbell owns the Powerstation, a music venue in Auckland.

Watering holes will have to wait another week before pulling pints - with Cabinet reasoning bars pose the biggest risks for spreading coronavirus - as Jacinda Ardern spelled out yesterday.

Under the Alert Level 2 rules there should be no more than 100 in the venue.

Matt McLaughlin is a bar owner in Wellington and is the region's branch president of Hospitality New Zealand.

He says the news is disappointing and unexpected for the industry, and warns that many establishments will fold.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

For the first time in years, more people in their 20s are eyeing up the housing market.

TradeMe has reported a spike people between the ages of 18 to 29 browsing listings, putting it down to low interest rates and the temporary scrapping of the loan to value ratio, in the wake of Covid-19.

Will this translate to sales?

RNZ housing reporter Eva Corlett reports.

Alert Level 2 is officially on the way, seven weeks after New Zealand entered Alert Level 4.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the reopening yesterday, with the move staggered to allow extra time before reopening schools and bars.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Social services fear some of their funding sources are about to dry up, just as more people need help amid the fallout from Covid-19.

Since the Alert Level 4 lockdown, foodbanks across the country have been busier than ever - but community organisations are anticipating many more months of increased demand for food and other services, as unemployment worsens.

After years of under-funding, they are pleading with the government for more help in Thursday's budget.

RNZ's social issues reporter Sarah Robson has the story.

The Government has confirmed the country will be easing into Alert Level 2 from Thursday meaning retailers and public spaces will largely be able to reopen as long as physical distancing measures are put in place and observed.

Restaurants, hairdressers and gyms will unlock their doors, as will cinemas, museums and libraries.

Schools reopen the following Monday 18 May.

People spoken to by RNZ were welcoming more freedom of movement and the chance to burst some bubbles.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Trade Me is reporting a spike in people between the ages of 18 to 29 browsing house listings, putting it down to low interest rates and the temporary scrapping of the loan to value ratio, in the wake of Covid-19.

But will this translate to sales?

RNZ housing reporter Eva Corlett spoke to the head of property at Trade Me, Nigel Jeffries.