Morning Report

As people steel themselves for the coronavirus lockdown, leaders from some of the country's essential industries are assuring the public they'll keep on providing the goods and services to get people through.

At one minute to midnight tomorrow, the country will go into full lockdown as the Covid-19 alert level four comes into force.

Only services declared essential will continue to operate.

Matthew Theunissen reports.

New Zealand is now heading into lockdown.

Today it's level three - mass gatherings are banned, public venues including cinemas, libraries, restaurants and bars will be shut and there'll be no school for most children.

Tomorrow night it will become level four - all but essential businesses will be closed and people must stay at home ... allowed to venture out for fresh air so long as they don't meet up with others.

The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the decision to ramp up the response came after two cases of coronavirus were found to have resulted from community transmission.

People on Wellington streets were nervous about what lies ahead, but not surprised.

Shoppers at a Christchurch supermarket said there was bickering in the aisles and goods tumbled from shelves as people rushed to stock up, despite the Prime Minister's assurance supplies would not run out and people should shop as normal.

The Government's pledging more support for people affected by the slowdown in the economy brought on by the pandemic.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says he is boosting last week's $5 billion rescue package by $4 billion to put more money in the hands of workers and business owners.

He says there'll be a freeze on rent hikes and there'll more announcements in the next few days on temporary support for people with mortgages.

The Warriors could return home as soon as today.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Councils say they'll be able to maintain essential services across New Zealand during the lockdown.

That includes services like drinking and waste water, rubbish collection and public transport for essential workers.

The president of Local Government New Zealand is Dave Cull.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

A doctor who helped launch a petition urging the Government to put New Zealand in lockdown is pleased the alert level will rise to its maximum tomorrow, but wants more to be done.

New Zealand will go into full lockdown at one minute to midnight tomorrow.

Kelvin Ward speaks to Susie Ferguson.

With a nationwide lockdown imminent, New Zealanders are rushing to return to their homes; others are frantically stocking their shelves.

From today, non-essential businesses should be moving to close - with all employees working from home.

Schools and universities, for the most part, should be closed too. Come Wednesday midnight, the country will move into Covid-19 alert level four - at which point most people will be instructed to stay at home.

Here's RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

Germany has banned public gatherings of more than two people in a bid to curtail the coronavirus.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is herself in isolation, told the public "our own behaviour" was the "most effective way" of slowing the rate of infection.

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Susie Ferguson.