Morning Report

The International Student's Association says it's hypocritical of universities to be using New Zealand's Covid-19 response as a "marketing ploy" to try and attract more international students next year, when they're not adequately supporting the ones already in the country.

The association says universities are too reliant on international fees and are desperate to attract more funding from the international market but are ignoring current students' hardship.

Sabrina Alhady is the International Students' Association president.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Many people have been working from home during lockdown, and it seems many of us have liked it.

Auckland HR firm Frog Recruitment found more than 70 per cent of almost 1300 workers and managers surveyed found they aren't happy with the idea of going back to pre-covid workplace arrangements.

Jane Kennelly from the firm speaks to Kim Hill about how the adjustment may have changed our workplace culture permanently.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

The massive disruption in work habits over the last few weeks has the potential to completely reshape the New Zealand economy for good.

That's the call from one psychologist who says resilience shown during the public health emergency now needs to be transferred to new ways of working.

Eleisha Foon spoke to some people who are welcoming the opportunity to re-set.

A literacy expert is urging parents to turn on the subtitles when their children are watching the government's two educational tv channels during the lockdown.

Ros Lugg from Christchurch told RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen subtitles have such a big effect on children's literacy they should always be on.

The New Zealand fashion brand RUBY is launching a training scheme to build skills for the local industry and hopefully help rejuvenate the industry in a post-Covid world.

The company is looking for machinists, cutters and patternmakers to join short workshops.

The materials used will mostly be fabric offcuts and the resulting clothes will be sold, with RUBY and the apprentice each taking a half share.

Emily Miller-Sharma is the company's general manager.

Today we'll find out what life will look like if Cabinet agrees to loosen lockdown restrictions next week, and move to Level Two.

There are existing guidelines about what would be allowed - but the Prime Minister says they may end up looking quite different to the last time we were at Alert Level 2 in March.

.Under the current guidelines schools would open to all students, hospitality venues could re-open under certain conditions and larger weddings and funerals could be held.

Jane Patterson is RNZ's political editor.

The construction industry says staff turnover issues within a branch of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment appear to have improved under the Covid response.

Incredibly high turnover within the Building System Performance unit was having a negative effect on improving building rules.

The unit will be crucial to the pandemic recovery.

Phil Pennington reports.

People in rural parts of Central Hawke's Bay are being urged to test drinking water bores as nitrate levels in some areas soar.

A new study shows nitrates at some bores are nearly twice the maximum acceptable level for drinking water.

Anusha Bradley reports.

The Breast Cancer Foundation says that during the lockdown, 200 people will have missed having their breast cancer detected.

Adele Gautier is the foundation's research and advocacy manager.

She speaks to Kim Hill.