Morning Report

The details about what life will look like at Alert Level 2 are set to be announced today.

There are existing guidelines about what would be allowed - but the Prime Minister says the new rules may end up looking quite different as a lot more is now known about the coronavirus.

Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker speaks to Susie Ferguson.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A Māori technologist says a digital contact tracing system in New Zealand poses the risk of discrimination against Māori. 

PhD candidate Karaitiana Taiuru has just released a paper on indigenous ethics guidelines when collecting data. 

The goverment may give more information today about how contact tracing will work at Alert Level 2. 

Taiuru told RNZ Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan that the system must take tikanga Māori into consideration.

In Germany, Angela Merkel has revealed that all pupils will be allowed to return to class gradually during the Summer term.

The Chancellor announced their plans for relaxing restrictions, and gearing up again after seven weeks under lockdown.

All shops will re-open, but masks compulsory, and the professional football league, the Bundesliga, will be back on by the end of the month, although probably without crowds.

The European country has seen fewer than 7000 deaths so far in the pandemic - a significantly lower figure than other countries such as the UK, Spain and Italy.

Chancellor Merkel says relaxing the rules is possible because Germans had observed social distancing measures.

Correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Kim Hill.

Education advisors warn that the nation risks serious anxiety and mental health problems among young people if the return to schooling is not handled right.

The University of Auckland this week launched a website to help teachers help children deal with what they have been through during the lockdown.

An education professor from the university, Peter O'Connor, told RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen some children will be worried about their parents' jobs and others will be worried by the scale of the pandemic.

We'll find out today what life will look when the country moves to Level Two, Businesses say they'll do whatever it takes to stick to the rules and get cash flowing again, and Teachers are cautioned to ease students back into the classroom or risk mental trauma

A remote corner of New Zealand, Golden Bay, is once again relying on its ability to be self-sufficient.

Two years ago the only road over the Takaka Hill was blocked by a storm, leaving the area's 5000 residents completely isolated.

They say it's been a dress rehearsal for the Covid-19 lockdown.

Tracy Neal reports.

This year's New Zealand Agricultral Show in Christchurch has been cancelled because of Covid-19.

Its the first time the show will NOT go on since the end of the second World War.

The announcement comes a full six months before the show was set to begin in November, and organizers are warning that the future of the event is in doubt.

Geoff Bone is the Show's event director.

He speaks to Gyles Beckford.

Some people may have taken the opportunity during lockdown to catch up on their reading, but sales of New Zealand books have crashed during the Covid-19.

The Publishers Association says the risk to the industry is as bad as during the Global Financial Crisis.

Association president Julia Marshall speaks to Susie Ferguson.