Morning Report

Spells of fine weather are luring hundreds of people to local parks, beaches and walking hotspots to get their lockdown breath of fresh air.

While most are happy with the distance provided by others, there's concern that the sheer number of people in some places could pose a risk.

Police haven't ruled out taking a tougher approach.

RNZ reporter Katie Todd headed to St Heliers beach in Auckland, to ask a steady trickle of walkers - from a distance - what they thought.

The Disability Rights Commissioner says she is seriously concerned that community care workers are not getting access to personal protective equipment like face masks.

Two care workers have been confirmed as having covid-19. Paula Tesoriero told RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen the coronavirus crisis risks taking a particularly severe toll on people with disabilities.

Flights chartered by the German Government to repatriate its citizens stranded in New Zealand have been postponed.

The first flight took off successfully but further flights had to be rescheduled due to lockdown restrictions here.

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Susie Ferguson.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A woman whose husband is in government-managed quarantine at a hotel says its treatment of guests is shameful.

Many New Zealanders arriving home who don't live close to airports are being housed at buildings including the Grand Mercure hotel in Auckland.

Ministry of Health notices handed out by the hotel on Saturday told people they could go to supermarkets or shops, but on Sunday a second notice told them they could not.

Cath, whose husband is staying at the hotel, says it's been hard to even call him on the phone.

The Ministry of Health has been approached for comment.

People can now buy whiteware, heaters, blankets and devices during the lockdown through online or phone orders that will be delivered in a contactless way.

The Government has eased restrictions slightly to allow the sale of some essential goods, which people may need to safely isolate, stay connected to one another and work or study from home.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says stores selling these goods must keep their premises shut.

RNZ reporter Amy Williams spoke with the chief executive of Retail NZ Greg Harford.

New advice shows at least fourteen thousand people could die if efforts to control and eradicate Covid-19 fail. and The police plan to take a tougher line if parks and beaches gets too crowded during lockdown

Even before coronavirus threw a spanner in everyone's plans, Saunders Shoes in Masterton was destined to shut its doors tomorrow for the final time.

But because it had to close last week, Sally Summers has gone into retirement a few days earlier than planned.

Had she made it till tomorrow, it would have marked the 70th anniversary of her starting her career there as a shop assistant.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

It's become New Zealand's and several other countries' most downloaded app overnight.

Houseparty is the latest viral video sharing service used to fill the gap left by the loss of face-to-face interactions.

But its boom has worried privacy experts, who liken its terms and conditions to the Wild West.

Mackenzie Smith reports.