Morning Report

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Māori leaders are backing the government plans to extend level four a bit longer.

But there are fears that even three more weeks of heightened restrictions will spell the end for some Māori businesses.

RNZ Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan reports.

Early childhood services say they expect many centres will stay closed next week, even though they'll be allowed to be open under Alert Level 3.

The government says schools and early learning centres will open on 29 April for children who can't learn from home or whose parents are going back to work.

But the industry says it wants to see more evidence that reopening will be safe.

Chief executive of the Early Childhood Council, Peter Reynolds, speaks to Susie Ferguson.

New Zealanders seem to largely be accepting the government's decision to move to level 3 next week - almost a week later than originally hoped for.

People are in no doubt the delay is a good decision, but there are areas of particular concern and confusion - the partial reopening of schools and ECE being one.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield speaks to Corin Dann.

Some of the country's top scientists say New Zealand cannot afford to wait on other countries to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

Estimates suggest it will take at least a year before international doses can be produced in large amounts and there are fears New Zealand could be near the back of the queue for supplies.

Scientists here say money from the public purse should fund the development of a kiwi-made vaccine.

Katie Scotcher reports.

University of Otago public health professor Michael Baker says he's "reassured" by the Government's work to eliminate Covid-19.

He told Morning Report on the whole he's happy with the government's move to seek advice from independent experts.

He does believe there is a missing element though, a digital solution to track people's movement.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

This time next week New Zealand will have moved down to Covid-19 Alert Level 3.

The level four lockdown has cost both businesses and their staff lost income. Will the slight easing of the ban on businesses opening be enough to make a significant difference?

Business New Zealand chief executive Kirk Hope and Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff speak to Susie Ferguson.

National's deputy leader Paula Bennett says her name has been cleared by the courts after - what she calls - a fishing expedition by Winston Peters for his own political purposes.

Peters - the deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand first leader - has failed in the legal action he took over the leaking of details about his superannuation overpayment to media ahead of the 2017 election.

He took State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes, former Ministry of Social Development head Brendan Boyle and former National ministers Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett to court, claiming they had breached his privacy.

Political reporter Jo Moir spoke to Bennett and began by asking if she felt vindicated.

RNZ was unable to contact Winston Peters and a spokesperson for Peter Hughes declined to comment.

New Zealand's Alert Level 4 lockdown has been extended for a little over a week, ending just before midnight on Monday 27 April.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report the extension was not due to contact tracing issues, rather balancing the increased chance of eradicating the disease with the economic impact.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

Front-line doctors and nurses who braced for the worst under Covid-19 are relieved the government is staying cautious.

They say New Zealand is in a great position to eliminate the disease - if people keep doing the right thing.

.Some warn that testing, protective equipment and contact tracing still need work if the country's going to keep the disease out long term.

Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn reports