Morning Report

It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Dunedin's Baldwin St has reclaimed its world record.

The governing body of Guinness World Records has reversed its decision, admitting its measuring method had been wrong. Baldwin street was dethroned by Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, last July.

That backtrack was thanks to months of hard work by Dunedin surveyor Toby Stoff.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Easter will be a lot different in Jerusalem this Easter because of the coronavirus.

In the city where it all happened, the restriction of movement will mean that the streets will be largely empty making it difficult for Jews and Christians to celebrate this time of the year, while isolation will also affect Muslims who are about to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

Travel between cities is banned until tomorrow, with roadblocks erected at main junctions leading from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

Israel this week imposed special holiday restrictions to try to halt the spread of the disease with Jews only able to celebrate the traditional seder meal with immediate family.

Liat Collins is the Editor of the International Jerusalem Post and just before Passover started she told producer Barry Guy that everything is different for them and their city this year. Israel has reported more than 9,400 cases and at 72 deaths from Covid-19.

With churches, mosques, synagogues and temples forced to close, people of faith are having to change they way express their religious beliefs.

Religious leaders like priests and vicars aren't classed as essential workers, so services are being live-streamed online from their homes.

In Depth reporter Max Towle has been investigating how mosques and churches are coping.

Paywave limits on debit and credit cards have been increased to $200 at some terminals around the country this morning. Previously only transactions of $80 or less were able to be completed without entering a PIN.

The temporary upper limit is bid to reduce contact with PIN pads during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Payments NZ say the new higher contactless payment limit will take a few weeks to roll out nationwide.

Chief executive Steve Wiggins told RNZ reporter Emma Hatton they opted for a decent increase to catch a good chunk of purchases.

A Covid-19 group set up by Maori public health specialists says it urgently needs to find out what the Health Ministry is doing before there are costly mistakes.

Sources have told RNZ the ministry has just finished designing the data collection and analysis system it needs to make a decision about whether to come out of lockdown on April 22.

Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā says it's had no input to that and doesn't know anything about the source or quality of the information being collected about Maori.

It says it has no idea about the likely and predicted footprint of Covid-19 into Māori communities who generally have higher health needs and will be more susceptible to the virus.

A health data specialist Andrew Sporle is furious about the lack of information.

Winston Peters has weighed in on calls for a change of the election date.

He says he fought for a date of 21 November before the current date of 19 September was announced, and he now thinks it is even more important it be moved to that due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The second full week of the new normal is almost over most New Zealanders are holed up at home, and relying on essential workers to keep the country running.

But not everyone can afford big trips to the supermarket, as many businesses are forced to shut and demand for food parcels is soaring.

The Salvation Army's Captain Gerry Walker speaks to Corin Dann.

The second full week of the new normal is almost over most New Zealanders are holed up at home, and relying on essential workers to keep the country running.

The post is an essential service and postal and courier workers are still treading the footpath to bring Kiwis their letters and parcels.

Some have told their union they're feeling scared while doing their work as Covid-19 sticks around on surfaces and not everyone keeps their distance.

John Maynard is the president of the postal workers union Aotearoa.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The second full week of the new normal is almost over most New Zealanders are holed up at home, and relying on essential workers to keep the country running.

But how are those with disabilities handling life under lockdown?

Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero speaks to Corin Dann.