Morning Report

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

The Black Caps will face-off again against India tomorrow at Christchurch's Hagley Park.

They're one up in the two-test series after a ten-wicket win in Wellington earlier this week.

They'll be hoping they can make it two from two.

Cricket commentator is Hamish Bidwell speaks to Corin Dann.

The National Party says the Government should scrap its tax on fuel - and promises to do just that if it's elected instead of "tinkering" around the edges of the law.

Finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Business leaders in Nelson-Tasman say uncertainty created by the Covid-19 coronavirus is beginning to hit home.

The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology is facing direct losses of a $1.5 million as foreign students stay home, forestry workers are on reduced hours, tourists are cancelling holidays, and Nelson based fishing company Sealord is preparing a plan for its offshore crews.

Meanwhile, health officials told a public meeting last night they are bracing for the arrival of the virus to our shores.

RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal was at the meeting.

Lotto's expecting to sell two million tickets for Saturday night's must win $50 million prize draw.

It's the biggest powerball jackpot in Lotto history and only the 6th time its jackpotted to the point where it's guaranteed at least one person will pocket the money.

Some think such a large amount of money should be shared among more.

Anan Zaki reports.

The Prime Minister will head into her meeting with Scott Morrison today armed with an argument against Australia's hardline deportation policy.

She's also likely to raise climate change.

Jacinda Ardern will meet the Australian Prime Minister in Sydney later today.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir speaks to Corin Dann.

The New Zealand men's pursuit team have taken silver at the Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin.

A new nursing degree in Auckland hopes to boost the number of Māori joining the the profession

Manukau Institute of Technology launched Te Tohu Paetahi Tikanga Rangatira ā Tapuhi yesterday, a nursing degree with a particular focus on Māori health, tikanga and te reo.  

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui reports.

Immigration New Zealand rejected 5200 study visa applications from India last year, more than double the number in 2018.

The spike in declines includes half the applications made for private institutes and 40 percent of those for polytechnics.

Immigration New Zealand says some of the applicants are trying to crowdfund their studies and it is worried they will be exploited if they are allowed to come to New Zealand.

Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen.

Today is the last day Kiwibank customers will be able to use a cheque.

The government-owned bank will be followed by ACC and Inland Revenue in the move to digital payments and cash only. There's concern among people who still rely on cheques on how they will cope.

Harry Lock reports.