Morning Report

The NRL could be thrown into turmoil this morning with the Warriors set to decide their immediate future in the competition following the travel restrictions.

No entry - for the first time ever, New Zealand is closed Italy's coronavirus death toll is set to pass China's today The government's working on plans to get New Zealanders home Many older people are preparing in case they're isolated from their families

The Great Moscow Circus currently performing in Nelson says it may have to house stranded overseas performers in the circus tent.

The Cambridge-based touring company of the New Zealand franchise is currently in Nelson, but will pack up on Sunday.

Tour manager Marie Webber says the rest of the planned South Island tour has now been postponed, and the circus will now make its way back north on Sunday.

She told RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal it will perform for smaller audiences on the way, to help support the performers who will have to remain in Cambridge.

The largest indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere is underway, despite almost all of its international guests being unable to make it because of Covid-19. 

The seventh annual Māoriland Film Festival kicked off at Raukawa Marae in Ōtaki yesterday. 

Meriana Johnsen went along.

Thousands of New Zealanders overseas are scrambling to get home as borders and transport links around the world shut down.

But some are finding it an impossible task.

Jono MacLeod is stuck in Macedonia and he spoke to our reporter Katie Scotcher.

Local government leaders want councillors to be excused from turning up in person to meetings in recognition of the likely disruption of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Councils are legally required to meet a quorum before meetings go ahead, but that may not be possible if the situation gets worse.

RNZ reporter Robin Martin has more.

Nearly 8 million people in the San Francisco area have been ordered to "shelter in place" and stay at home.

Shirley Wong is a New Zealander who has lived in San Francisco for the last six years.

Susie Ferguson spoke to her a about life under these orders.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

After 40 years, abortions will be be removed from the Crimes Act.

The Abortion Legislation Bill passed 68 votes to 51 in its third reading in Parliament last night - a much narrower margin than at the second reading.

Until now abortion has been the only medical procedure considered a crime in New Zealand - meaning those seeking one had to argue that their physical or mental health would be endangered by the pregnancy to access the procedure.

Green MP Jan Logie spoke to Susie Ferguson.

All new jury trials have been suspended for the next two months as a precaution to Covid-19.

The Ministry of Justice was unable to tell RNZ at this stage the number of trials this will affect.

The President of the Criminal Bar Association is Len Anderson.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.