Morning Report

We're now 14 days into the nationwide lockdown - a time when a trip to the supermarket is the biggest event of the week and the daily briefing with Dr Ashley Bloomfield and co is a central part of many people's days.

We've been staying in touch with residents on one street, Allendale Road in Auckland's Mt Albert, to try and get an idea of how ordinary Kiwis are getting on.

Last time, Jas's dad was crook, Judy was having a tough time but knitting up a storm, and Roger and Linda Davies were having drinks with their daughter either side of the front door.

Whatever will happen next on "Isolation Street"?

Matthew Theunissen reports.

The clock is running out on the Health Minister's political career - after a humiliating and obvious error in the face of a global pandemic.

David Clark has been given a public drubbing, stripped of his Associate Finance role and demoted to the lowest ranking in Cabinet for flouting the lockdown rules.

He hangs on to his health role - but for how long?

Here's RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

New Zealand is half way through its four-week lockdown period and there are some signs it's beginning to work, as the number of new cases dropped yesterday.

But there are warnings not to get complacent just yet.

University of Auckland microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist Dr Siouxsie Wiles speaks to Corin Dann.

Covid-19 researchers are optimistic the level four restrictions could be lifted in at least some regions in a few weeks - but warn that New Zealanders should brace themselves to do things differently for up to 18 months.

The initial level four period is due to end on 23 April but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said it's too early to make a decision on whether that will be extended.

With businesses, workers and parents of school-aged children all keen to get out from under level four's thumb, reporter Kate Newton asked experts when that might happen - and what it might look like.

New Zealand's treatment of prisoners during the Covid-19 outbreak meets the international definition of solitary confinement, according to a justice reform group.

Four families have now come forward telling RNZ that inmates across the country are being confined to their cells for 23 or more hours a day.

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says his department is doing its best to keep Covid-19 out of jails and prisoners should take the issues up with guards if they are being denied minimum entitlements.

Here is investigative journalist Guyon Espiner.

Vanuatu has been hit by one of the strongest recorded storms to ever make landfall on the tiny Pacific nation, forcing the government to suspend coronavirus social distancing measures for evacuees.

Tropical Cyclone Harold packed winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour making it the strongest storm to hit Vanuatu in five years and the strongest one ever to make landfall on the nation's largest island.

Phone lines are mostly down this morning but this is what Luganville MP Matai Seremaiah told RNZ yesterday.

The cyclone is now heading south towards Fiji the cyclone is expected to weaken.

Weather forecaster Richard Green speaks to Susie Ferguson.

New York State now has more cases of Coronovirus than Italy and is only second in the world to Spain.

The US state has more than 138,000 reported cases Today was also New York state's deadliest day, with 731 new deaths.

In total the United States has recorded 380,000 cases and 11,800 deaths.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says hospitalisations appear to be reaching a plateau.

Police are promising to be out in force this weekend to stop would-be holidaymakers popping other people's bubbles.

Permanent residents of holiday hotspots around the country are pleading with bach owners to stay at home this easter and keep Covid-19 out of their communities.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Corin Dann.

Simon Bridges says there's no comparison between his weekly commute between Wellington and Tauranga, and the Health Minister's breach of lockdown rules.

David Clark has been demoted, and stripped of his Associate Finance role, after admitting driving his family 20 kilometres from their Dunedin home to walk along a beach.

The National Party leader is driving himself between Wellington and his home in Tauranga every week, so he can be at Parliament to chair the Epidemic Response Committee.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A Whangamata man says out-of-towners have been using the cover of darkness during lockdown to sneak into the beachside resort for the Easter break.

Police are promising to be out in force this weekend to stop would-be holidaymakers and turn them around before they can reach their destination.

Permanent residents of holiday hotspots around the country are pleading with bach owners to stay at home.

Jordan Bond reports.