Morning Report

People of all faiths are asking their congregations to support the Muslim community at the National Remembrance Service one year on from the Christchuch mosque attacks.

Prominent religious figures such as the former Anglican Dean of Christchurch Peter Beck want to ensure last year's attack will never be repeated.

Anan Zaki has the story.

The Islamic Women's Council is seeking a personal apology from the State Services Commissioner for the failure of the security services to protect the Muslim community.

The council told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks - in which 51 Muslims were killed during Friday prayers - that the public sector repeatedly failed to listen to warnings about increasing Islamophobia, including threats of violence.

It is seeking widespread reforms to ensure public servants are held more accountable. The Royal Commission is due to deliver its report at the end of April.

Islamic Women's Council national co-ordinator Anjum Rahman speaks to Corin Dann.

Five years after the charity - Quit Group - ceased to exist it continues to pay its board members tens of thousands of dollars a year from funds it never invested in smokefree services.

One of those board members is Chris Cunningham, who left the role of chair of the Hepatitis Foundation, after RNZ revealed late last year that he had spent $128,000 on overseas travel, on top of lavish dinners at expensive Auckland restaurants.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has been taking a look at the Quit Group, which stopped operating in 2015, and speaks to Susie Ferguson about it.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says National Party health spokesperson has been briefed on Covid-19 over the weekend by the director general of health, alongside the Health Minister.

"We are offering up those briefings and will continue to do so," she told Morning Report.

"If they've got other thoughts and ideas, more than happy to hear them, because this is a global issue, and a New Zealand issue, first and foremost, not a political one."

A public health expert is warning that disruption caused by the Covid-19 virus could continue for up to two years.

Professor Michael Baker says figures over the weekend suggest a major tipping point for Covid-19 at the global level, but says New Zealand still has time to seriously ramp up efforts to contain the virus.

Professor Baker is from the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

New Zealand heavyweight boxer David Nyika has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after winning his quarter-final bout at the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Jordan.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Globally, around 106 thousand people have caught the coronavirus, leading to more than 3600 deaths - while at least 60 thousand people have recovered.

In Northern Italy at least 16 million people, are now in mandatory quarantine which will last until early April.

There are reports some people fled locked down zones and the governor of the southern Italian region of Puglia, has urged those who left to turn back.

Officials say the death toll in Italy has increased over the past day from 233 to 366.

In the UK the number of cases have jumped significantly - from 209 to 273.

French health officials have confirmed just over 1000 cases of coronavirus, with the death toll increasing from 11 to 19.

There are 470 cases in the United States and there has been 19 deaths.

The World Health Organisation is warning if the virus spreads to Syria it would be devastating, no cases have been confirmed but agencies fear an outbreak would be difficult to contain.

There are still five cases in New Zealand.

Travel bans remain in place for non-residents or citizens who have been in or transited through Iran or mainland China.

Travellers who've recently returned from northern Italy or South Korea are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days - as are people who have been in contact with a person confirmed to have Covid-19.

Māori interested in applying for licences to produce medicinal cannabis say they're struggling to raise the money needed to even get started. 

Some of those at a Ministry of Health hui in Wellington yesterday say the cost of a licence is a hurdle in itself. 

Meriana Johnsen reports.

National is unveiling the first of its five-point economic growth plan this morning - laying out its plan to slash red-tape.

Leader Simon Bridges says the party has brought forward the release due to the coronavirus outbreak, because it wants to give small businesses some certainty.

As part of its plan to reduce regulation, National says if elected it would do away with two regulations for each new one introduced, and it would scrap 100 regulations in its first six months.

Bridges told political reporter Yvette McCullough, the party would also introduce a "health and safety common-sense test".