Morning Report

For the second consecutive day President Trump's has not held a daily press briefing leading to suggestions the briefings may be curtailed.

That is being denied by White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, who says there will be more briefings but they may have a different look.

Washington correspondent Simon Marks speaks to Philippa Tolley.

A Bill enabling the police and foreign security agencies to intercept private cellphone calls during the APEC summit is being amended to stop it from happening .

The Apec summit is set to go ahead in November next year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Phil Pennington reports.

Parliament is back today and with it several MPs, including a large chunk of National's caucus.

National will hold a phone conference with the whole caucus at 9am, as the rumbles over Simon Bridges' leadership continue.

Agitation over the leadership was reignited last week with many MPs unhappy about his the tone of his response to the news the lockdown would be extended until Monday night.

RNZ political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Corin Dann.

It's business - yes - but not as usual. From today homeware, hardware, retail, restaurants, cafes and garden centres, can all open, along with butchers with bakers, but with strict social distancing rules.

Goods must be selected and bought online or over the phone, and delivered or picked up without contact, and only if the business can do so safely.

Emma Hatton reports.

Headlines around the globe are touting New Zealand's "elimination" of Covid 19, but experts here are warning it's too early to be talking about elimination, and the public must NOT get complacent.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Philippa Tolley.

New Zealand has been making international headlines overnight for "eliminating" Covid 19.

A story titled "Coronavirus currently eliminated in NZ" led the BBC website.

Similar stories appeared in the United States and Australia.

Most stories quoted Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield from yesterday's press briefing, where he said that there was only one case in the whole of April that hasn't had it's origin sucessfully traced.

But University of Otago public health expert Professor Michael Baker says talk of elimination is premature.

Alert Level 3 Covid 19 restrictions have kicked in with health officials confident New Zealand is now in the right place to relax the rules.

Around 400,000 more people are expected to return to work - with many workplaces reopening under strict social distancing requirements.

People can now expand their social circle - slightly - to include close family members or caregivers.

But the battle's not over - New Zealanders are being warned they must still stay home as much as possible.

RNZ's deputy politcal editor Craig McCulloch reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The National Party says the country's contact tracing of positive Covid-19 cases is still not up to scratch.

It says that the Minister of Health does not have crucial data about potential virus carriers.

National Party health spokesperson Michael Woodhouse speaks to Philippa Tolley.

If you had any doubt level 4 lockdown is over, drive past your local McDonalds.

Long queues are forming outside restaurants as people arrive to order their first fast food meals in more than four weeks.

Only drive-through orders or contactless deliveries are allowed so far.

RNZ reporter Ellie Jay is in Royal Oak.