Morning Report

Schools are struggling to decide if they should proceed with overseas trips in the next couple of months.

The Covid-19 coronavirus has prompted travel restrictions in several countries, as well as the closure of major attractions.

Now principals and parents are deciding whether to cancel or go ahead with trips to Europe and the Americas.

Here's RNZ education corespondent, John Gerritsen.

A cruise ship is being held off of the coast of San Francisco as health officials prepare to screen everyone on board.

A man who died from Covid-19 after disembarking from the Grand Princess in San Francisco last month, and at least 11 passengers and crew are showing symptoms of the virus.

The ship is now being held off of the coast of San Francisco, and the state of California has declared a state of emergency as it responds to the coronavirus outbreak.

San Francisco correspondent Rachel Silverman speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The Chief Ombudsman has told Parliament Waikato Hospital's mental health facility is seriously overcrowded and patient safety cannot be guaranteed.

Peter Boshier filed his reports into the Henry Bennett Rongomau Bennett Centre after a string of unannounced inspections by his office.

Judge Boshier told me the Waikato District Health Board had promised to fix problems found during previous inspections but nothing had been done.

Former doctor Venod Skantha will be sentenced today for the murder of 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush.

This afternoon's sentencing will follow a long road to justice for the teenager and her family after Miss Rush was found by her mother in a pool of blood in her bed on the morning of 3 February 2018.

The 32-year-old Skantha stabbed Miss Rush to death after she threatened to expose his behaviour to the police and his bosses at Dunedin Hospital.

She had told him she was going to tell them about how he showed up to work drunk and supplied minors with alcohol and touched them up without their consent.

RNZ Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown has been following the case and speaks to Corin Dann.

The Islamic Women's Council has told the Royal Comission into the Christchurch attacks that it's likely they would never have happened if the public service - including police and security agencies - had paid attention to the warnings they were given.

The Council says the public sector failed dramatically. While the Royal Commission is sitting behind closed doors, the Islamic Women's Council has shared their submission exclusively with RNZ's Insight programme.

Philippa Tolley has more.

To the US where Senator Elizabeth Warren is dropping out of the race for the White House, after a series of disappointing results in the primaries.

That leaves former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders as the major candidates contesting for the Democratic nomination.

Warren is expected to speak to reporters after informing staff of her plans.

Washington correspondent Jagruti Dave speaks to Corin Dann.

The Federation of Maori Authorities is warning Covid-19 could hit the Maori economy by $500 million.

The Māori economy relies heavily on primary industries and tourism - both of which are taking massive hits as the virus disrupts exports to China and international travel.

RNZ Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan reports.

A public health professor says the World Health Organisation's failure to declare Covid-19 a pandemic is giving New Zealanders a false sense of security.

It was confirmed yesterday an Auckland man is the third case of Covid-19 in this country.

He's now in isolation, along with six members of his family. The Director-General of Health says the man contracted the virus from a family member who had been to Iran and returned more than a week ago.

Michael Baker is a public health professor from the University of Otago.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The International Cricket Council's playing conditions are again the talk of a World Cup.

News from the business sector, including a market report.