Morning Report

Coronavirus: Tourism industry wants travel allowed at Level 2; Coronavirus: Fast food workers feeling unsafe on the job; Coronavirus: Countdown installs temperature scanners for staff; Coronavirus: Prisoners confined to cells for up to 29 hours; Coronavirus: Contact tracing committee to advise minister.

International netballers are among those trapped in and locked out of New Zealand due to Covid-19.

As borders closed quickly around the world in response to the pandemic import players in premiere teams been left stranded, unable to reunite with their families.

RNZ Sports' Bridget Tunnicliffe has been speaking with some of them.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

Muttonbird hunters are eager to get a flight out to the Beneficial Tītī Islands as soon possible, with Alert Level 3 now opening a small window of opportunity to gather the delicious tītī before the season is over.

It was cut short by the lockdown so hunters now have just two weeks before the birds leave the island in early May.

Tony McColgan from Invercargill says it can cost up to $16,000 to get to and from the islands by helicopter, and buy all the necessary supplies.

He told RNZ reporter Te Aniwa Hurihanganui he's determined to get back into action.

School around the country are getting used to the new Covid-19 normal - juggling tiny classes with online teaching.

Almost 12,000 students returned to school yesterday, far fewer than expected under Alert Level 3.

Only the children of people who can not work from home are allowed to attend.

Deidre Shea, is principal of Onehunga High School in Auckland, and president of the Secondary Principals Association speaks to Gyles Beckford.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Business and trade experts are calling for caution as Winston Peters told parliament "if we can grow it or make it" we should.

But they also say the idea has some merit and is worthy of consideration.

The New Zealand First leader wants the country to come through the Covid-19 crisis with a reduced economic dependence on globalisation.

Stephen Jacobi is the executive director of the New Zealand International Business Forum.

He speaks to Gyles Beckford.

As the health system reels in the face of Covid-19, doctors say the time is right for serious reform.

This morning we're reporting the plight of a terminal cancer patient who spent days in a half-full hospital waiting to have a procedure that should have taken an hour.

Craig Gutry, 55, went into Palmerston North Hospital on Sunday to have a lump in his throat drained that was stopping him eating.

His wife, Jennie, says he initially waited in the emergency department for hours before developing a slight fever and spending the night.

But Mrs Gutry told Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn, the wait was only just beginning.

Both the Medical Association and General Practice New Zealand want the government to release a review of the health system that it requested, but has been sidelined.

The Health and Disability System Review recommendations were due out in March.

Kate Baddock is chair of the Medical Association.

The head of a small South Island forestry crew says he's had to find an extra $100,000 in order to pay wages during the lockdown.

Like many New Zealanders, about 40,000 forestry workers were back on the job on Tuesday.

For Matt Winmill, a contractor for forestry company Port Blakely, the end of lockdown couldn't come soon enough.

Winmill is also on the board of the Forestry Industry Contractors Association so has been in contact with numerous other forestry contractors who, like him, face an uncertain future.

He spoke to RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen.

There are claims fast food businesses are breaking social distancing rules less than a week after opening under Alert Level 3.

Unite Union says staff are breaking the rules as staff and customers struggle to stay apart.

Marisa Bidois, chief executive of the Restaurant Association, speaks to Gyles Beckford.

Blatant breaches of lockdown rules are happening at fast food restaurants as customers and staff struggle to keep their distance.

That's the claim of Unite Union's national secretary Gerard Hehir, who says McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and others are failing to keep their workers safe.

He speaks to Corin Dann.