Morning Report

The nurses union is warning hospitals will need a lot more staff if many more cases of Covid-19 emerge.

Forty-three staff members at the North Shore Hospital have been stood down for two weeks after they had close contacts with a probable case.

Hilary Graham-Smith from the Nurses Organisation, told RNZ reporter Chen Liu that the hospital is managing, but that will change with more cases.

A brief update from the business sector.

A Manus Island refugee and musician detained in an Australian hotel is being prevented from recording his new song.

Mostafa Azimitabar or Moz, spent seven years locked up on Manus Island before being transferred to Melbourne four months ago for medical treatment he says he's yet to receive.

Ben Robinson Drawbridge has more.

A Chinese community leader in Auckland says the government needs to act more decisively to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.

Barry Hung is the president of Pakuranga Chinese Association, which started an appeal that is quickly endorsed by thousands of people from other more than 20 other groups.

He told RNZ reporter Chen Liu that the government isn't paying enough attention to the virus and they have sent a list of demands to the Prime Minister and Health Minister.

These include setting up designated facilities for suspected cases.

New Zealand's Israel Adesanya successfully defended his UFC middleweight championship title against Cuban Yoel Romero last night in Las Vegas, and while Adesanya agrees the fight wasn't what many fans had hoped for he says he did what he had to do to win.

Covid-19: Public health expert warns of years of disruption, Covid-19: Cabinet to plan next steps for economy, Quit Group still giving board members money after shutting down, Islamic Women's Council seeks apology from State Services Commander, Religious figures call on followers to support muslim community.

It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

North America has Bigfoot, the Himalayas have the Yeti and Fiordland has the moose.

Moose were let loose into Fiordland National Park in 1910 but sightings of them have been rare since - the last photograph of one was taken in 1952.

That's not for lack of trying - a few dedicated moose trackers have been on their trail since the 1970s.

Now though, a helicopter pilot says he's spied one.

Ben Young is a pilot for Southern Lakes Helicopters and swears he's not sending people on a wild moose chase.

Despite being the oldest in the elite field, 47-year-old Cameron Brown is still giving himself a good chance of winning the New Zealand Ironman for a 13th time in Taupo on Saturday.

Brown first competed in the event, which is a 3.9km swim, 180km bike ride and a marathon run, in 1997.

He told RNZ sports reporter Barry Guy while time is catching up with him, it's not slowing him down too much.

After weeks of severe water shortages in the Far North, relief is on its way. 

Water is expected to be pumped from Māori-owned Lake Ōmāpere into Kaikohe sometime today, but not all locals are happy. 

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui reports.