Morning Report

Super Rugby is back under Alert Level 2 - although when matches do kick off they'll be played in empty stadiums.

With international travel off the cards for the foreseeable future, New Zealand Rugby is proposing to run a domestic version of the competition, played over 10 weeks.

Chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Mark Robinson speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A Hawke's Bay farming family say it could take years for them to recover from the devastating drought that has blighted the region.

There hasn't been heavy rainfall since October and the first four months of this year have been the driest on record.

The Dasent family feel that the government has forgotten about farmers, and say the situation gets more desperate each day.

Anusha Bradley reports.

The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown has been devastating for the tourism industry, with job losses and closures throughout the country.

But with news restrictions on domestic travel will lift under Alert Level 2, the sector has been given a shot of adrenaline.

Chris Roberts is chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Restaurant owners, gyms and retailers say they need more detail about how to operate under Alert Level 2.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has offered a broad outline of how businesses could open should restrictions ease.

Ardern said each business can work out its own situation but a basic principle of distancing and hygiene is needed.

Ben Strang reports.

Staggered starts at work, buses running at maximum while half full, and limits on the lifts are among the prospects facing office workers heading into Covid-19 Alert Level 2.

Everyone will find out on Monday if this will go ahead.

Phil Pennington reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Māori academic Rawiri Taonui says it's a relief to see a surge in the rate of Māori being tested for Covid-19.

Ministry of Health figures show in April, the rate of Māori testing jumped from 16 per 1000 to 24.

Rawiri Taonui told RNZ Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama Mclachlan that's good news.

Secondary school principals are angry the Government is not helping them cover millions of dollars in lost income from international students.

They say it is unfair that private schools have been able get just over $9 million from the Government wage subsidy, but state funded schools get nothing.

The Auckland Secondary Principals Association says its pleas for a solution appear to be falling on deaf ears and the Minister of Education has refused to meet them.

RNZ reporter Anan Zaki has the story.

With restaurants, bars, beauty salons and professional sports set to return in Alert Level 2, some normality in a post-covid world seems imminent, but the Prime Minister is warning it is just another transition to a new normal.

Ahead of Monday's decison on whether it will change alert levels the Government is letting the public know what to expect under a lower alert level.

Here's political reporter Charlie Dreaver with the details.

News from the rural and farming sector.