Morning Report

Hundreds of childcare centres will be paid tens of millions of dollars for loss of income during the Covid-19 crisis thanks to a special insurance deal.

The unusual arrangement with their insurance broker, Crombie Lockwood means individual childcare operators will get a payout of up to $62,500 each.

The chief executive of the Early Childhood Council Peter Reynolds told Sharon Brettkelly 1300 of its members are insured through the broker.

Crombie Lockwood says it has been working with Lloyds of London to ensure that all Child Proof policy holders are honoured up to the expiry date of their existing policies.

A brief update from the business sector.

With no plans for mercy flights to bring New Zealanders home, a Palmerston North mother has had to make the tough decision to keep her teenage daughter in Northern Italy.

Kerri Mills's daughter Charlotte is just weeks shy of her 18th birthday and on a student exchange.

She told RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver that with no guaranteed route home, she and the exchange programme decided it was safer for Charlotte to stay put.

Germans stranded in New Zealand will begin boarding flights bound for Frankfurt tomorrow.

The first flight operated by Lufthansa, will be followed by another Air NZ flight.

Thousands of stranded tourists have subscribed to the repatriation programme.

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Top stories this morning... Importers of protective medical gowns says they can't find a supplier - and half a million gowns are needed The Muslim community is overwhelmed but relieved at the mosque murderer's shock guilty plea Elderly and disabled people are being left without support because the lockdown has thrown the caregiver system into turmoil. and it's the last chance today for New Zealanders to fly or catch ferries home for the lockdown.

Gym owners are coming up with inventive ways for their members to continue workouts during the lockdown period.

Jeff Willoughby is the owner of Studio 41 in Wellington and has quickly converted his garage into a makeshift gym so he can host online workouts.

About 10 personal trainers he employs at the gym, will also host online sessions over the next four weeks.

Willoughby speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Two New Zealand crew members who've just returned from an Antarctic cruise with Oceanwide Expeditions -- are struggling to find their way home from South America.

They are now in Montevideo in Uruguay, and while they have a flight booked to Santiago in Argentina for tomorrow they've been told it's delayed, and that has them worried they might not make it onto their flight leaving for Auckland just 2.5 hours later.

Polar guide Mal Haskins speaks to Corin Dann.

The families of people who die during the lockdown will be forced to grieve in isolation.

Funeral directors will continue as normal through Alert Level Four but funeral ceremonies and tangihanga have been banned.

For some it may mean never laying eyes on their loved ones again.

RNZ Maori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan reports.

With the country locked down, pregnant people will be relieved to know they can still receive care at home from a midwife.

If they have any symptoms of Covid-19, or any possible exposure to a Covid-19 case, a hospital birth will be the only option.

The College of Midwives is advising that a woman can only have a home birth if she does not have any Covid-19 risk factors and is well.

Jacqui Anderson is the college's acting chief executive.

Residents of New Zealand's farthest reaches are waiting to hear when essential supplies will be able to come in.

From Stewart Island to Tokelau, local officials are working to preserve flight and shipping routes while under lockdown.

Mackenzie Smith reports.