Morning Report

The man who led New Zealand's response to the last global pandemic says buying time is critical to how the disease will impact on New Zealand.

Mark Jacobs was the director of public health during the 2009 Swine Flu epidemic in which 49 people in New Zealand died and more than 1100 were hospitalised. Thousands more stayed away from work and school to keep the disease from spreading before it was accepted there was uncontained community transmission.

Dr Jacobs is now the World Health Organisation representative to Laos which borders China.

The pandemic plan used then is still the basis of the health ministry's plan but Dr Jacobs told RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn there are some key diffences between swine flu and Covid-19.

Airlines have been scrambling to put in place the latest travel restrictions which came into force at 1am this morning.

Anyone flying into New Zealand, except from the Pacific Islands, must go into isolation for 14 days to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Board of Airline Representatives, which represents 28 airlines flying into New Zealand, says they'll need government support if they're to get through the crisis.

Matthew Theunissen reports.

The Wellington Phoenix were in impressive form in possibly their last home game of the A-League season.

Isolation rules are now in force for all people arriving in the country. We'll talk to the prime minister about the next steps. The tourism and travel sectors warn mass job losses are likely.

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra will perform the song cycle 'Compassion' on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the mosque attacks.

The concert will also feature the world premiere of He Ngakau Aroha.

The chief executive and artistic director of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Gretchen La Roche speaks to Corin Dann.

The flower wall in Christchurch became a symbol of the country's grief and solidarity last year in the wake of the mosque shootings.

That memorial has long since been dismantled, but the sentiments of love and aroha live on.

Okirano Tilaia who was Head Boy at Cashmere High School last year and Zahra Ditta, who is a teacher and who was the Canterbury representative for the Islamic Women's Council last year speak to Corin Dann.

Organisers of the Womad festival in Taranaki this weekend are asking ticketholders who feel unwell to stay home as part of their plans to mitigate the affects of the Covid 19 virus.

They insist that - beyond taking extra care with their personal hygiene - healthy festival-goers need only come prepared to have a good time.

RNZ Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

It's nearly a year since the attacks on Al Noor and Linwood Mosque in Christchurch.

RNZ spoke to people around the country about their recollection of March 15, 2019.

Here's what they said in Wellington.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is up for grabs again after more than three years in the cupboard, as New Zealand and Australia face off in their three-match ODI cricket series.

First up is a day-night game in Sydney starting this afternoon.

There'll be a cacophony of colour on the pitch with retro uniforms the order of the day the Black Caps will be sporting the 'teal fern' design, from the late 1990s.

While for the Aussies it'll be the bright yellow of their 1999 World Cup kit.

Sports commenator Hamish Bidwell is looking forward to the match.