Morning Report

The Health Minister David Clark says he's let New Zealand down by taking a trip to a beach during the Level 4 lockdown, in addition to other questionable movements while his Government urged Kiwis to stay home.

Dr Clark offered the Prime Minister his resignation last night, but this was turned down because of the disruption it would cause during the Covid-19 crisis.

Matthew Theunissen reports on what Dr Clark has had to say.

Immigrants say they are facing life on the breadline after losing their jobs and being unable to claim benefits or return home.

An advocacy group says it is hypocritical of the Government to criticise Australia for not paying welfare to unemployed New Zealanders when it is doing the same thing to its foreign workforce.

Gill Bonnett reports.

Maori health professionals say the government's response to Covid-19 has serious shortfalls and blindspots and it's putting Maori communities, and therefore New Zealand, at risk.

Dr Elana Curtis is an associate professor in Maori Health at the University of Auckland.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

On the cusp of our third week of lockdown, public health researchers are working on how to identify if and when Covid-19 has been eliminated from the country.

They say increased testing is essential to provide meaningful data, covering all parts of the country and demographics.

To finally know if the virus is gone the most efficient way could be to test sewage.

Professor Michael Baker, from the University of Otago Wellington, is one of those looking ahead to a potentially Covid-19-free New Zealand.

Cyclone Harold has been causing widespread damage as it lashes Vanuatu.

The cyclone made landfall on the north and west of the country yesterday, with sustained winds reaching up to 235 kilometres an hour and wind gusts at times up to 300 kilometres an hour.

New Zealander Glen Craig is a business and government advisor based in Port Vila.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

The government has announced it will charter a flight to get New Zealanders stranded in Peru home.

Meanwhile as Vanuatu suffers the effects of Cyclone Harold, New Zealand's military is ready to help.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been in contact with New Zealanders there about getting them out.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters speaks to Corin Dann.

The Health Minister David Clark has admitted he broke the lockdown rules more than once and offered the Prime Minister his resignation last night.

Jacinda Ardern has said in a statement this morning she would have sacked him but for the massive disruption to the Covid-19 response.

She says " For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr Clark will maintain his role."

He has been stripped of his role of Associate Minister of Finance and demoted to the bottom of the Cabinet rankings.

Dr Clark speaks to Susie Ferguson.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Bottle stores in Invercargill and Gore are not following the example of west Auckland and pulling spirits off the shelves.

Aucklanders, knowing licensing trust zones in the West were the only place they could get hard liquor, were driving across in breach of the lockdown directives.

So the trusts have pulled back and are now selling only beer, wine and cider.

The general manager of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, Chris Ramsay, told RNZ reporter Jordan Bond they haven't seen the same problems as Auckland.

A New Zealand couple living in Bali say they've no choice but to "hunker down" and wait out the Covid-19 crisis on the island as attempts to return home have failed.

They say even if they could afford the only flight out, their sons' passports are being held by local authorities and they can't get them back.

Anusha Bradley reports.