Morning Report

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

There's growing concern in Papua New Guinea about a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases confirmed there, across four provinces.

It's a blow to the region which has so far been successful in keeping it out, with growing optimism that the curve was flattening in places where it has emerged.

RNZ Pacific's Jamie Tahana speaks to Philippa Tolley.

It's Anzac Day tomorrow and a long weekend.

Authorities are warning people not to become complacent as the shift to Alert Level 3 approaches approaches. The police say everyone must stick to the lockdown rules over the Anzac holiday and they'll be taking action against anyone caught breaking them. New Zealanders are preparing to mark Anzac Day this year at home after services around the country were cancelled.

The cancellation of the services for the first time ever hasn't stopped people commemorating the 1915 battle in Gallipoli in their own way.

Anne-Maree Middleton told RNZ reporter Jonathan Mitchell her family has created large poppies and cut outs of soldiers to decorate their Methven home.

RNZ is broadcasting a special live dawn service from six o'clock tomorrow morning.

People are also encouraged stand out at the front gate in the morning and log on and share their ANZAC Day pictures at StandAtDawn.com.

New Zealanders are being warning the long Anzac weekend is still a lockdown weekend, and Record numbers are turning up at Covid-19 testing centres - we hear what it's like doing the testing

All week we've been talking to people about what life's been like in isolation.

Nick Baker's a digital analyst and he's turned his hand to running polls on Twitter about all the important things in life - the best pies, the best flavour icecream and the best takeaways.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A University of Otago psychologist is hoping many will fill out a survey on lockdown life before we move to Alert Level 3.

So far 1000 people have answered the 15-minute questionnaire exploring the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on our attitudes towards government authority in the hopes it will help researchers understand the pandemic's influence on beliefs and behaviour.

Dr Damian Scarf is leading the research team.

The President of the United States announced this week - via tweet - that he is suspending all immigration into the US.

Donald Trump says it's necessary to protect the country from what he calls the ''invisible enemy'', Covid-19, and also to protect American jobs.

Lamia Imam is a New Zealander, married to a Texan, who works in the US, stranded in New Zealand, by the pandemic.

The Privacy Commissioner wants to assure people that his office is helping health authorities understand the risks of using technology to conquer Covid-19.

This morning, we reported the controversial data-mining firm Palantir had approached the Ministry of Health - and other governments around the world - offering its programmes as a solution.

The Ministry says it has no plans to use Palantir's services.

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards speaks to Corin Dann.

A returned traveller is questioning if there is mixing going under mandatory isolation that presents a risk of spreading Covid-19.

Nathaniel Herz-Edinger, 27, is half way through 14 days of imposed isolation at the Grand Mercure in Auckland.

The virus forced his early return after three years living in Berlin.