Morning Report

Frustration is growing because there is still no plan to clean up Auckland's jewel in the crown - the Hauraki Gulf - which is slowly being suffocated by plastic and sediment.

The latest State of our Gulf report paints a grim picture of the continued degrading of the marine environment, just as Auckland gears up to host next year's America's Cup.

Tangata whenua and environmentalists say it shouldn't just be up to the government and councils to come up with a plan - and that everyone needs to play a part, before it's too late.

RNZ reporter Sarah Robson has the story.

The Government has announced it's drafting a Fuel Market Bill based on the results of a study last year which found New Zealanders are paying too much for their petrol.

The Commerce Commission released their findings in December, but yesterday the Government responded to its findings.

Energy Minister Megan Woods speaks to Corin Dann.

The managing director of a cut-price fuel retailer says proposed regulation for the fuel market will make the industry more transparent.

Government has announced its response to a year-long fuel-market study by the Commerce Commission - the results of which were announced in December last year.

The study found that a true wholesale market for fuel doesn't exist in New Zealand.

Now the Government is drafting a Fuel Market Bill which it hopes to pass midway through this year and will be seeking input from the industry.

Jimmy Ormsby from cut-price fuel brand Waitomo speaks to Susie Ferguson.

It's been another wild night on global markets, with further falls on Wall Street extending a week of steep declines triggered by coronavirus fears. 

a short time ago the Dow was down 320 points about 1.2 percent. 

European stocks slid into correction territory this morning as the rapid spread of the coronavirus weighed heavily on market sentiment.

Michael Mackenzie is a markets editor at the Financial Times.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Fears a pandemic is on the way are growing as the coronavirus Covid-19 continues to spread around the globe, with one New Zealand epidemiologist saying it's not clear why the World Health Organisation has not declared one yet.

Our closest neighbour Australia has activated its coronavirus emergency response plan and extended its travel ban for a further week.

At this stage there are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, although more than 120 tests have been completed.

The Ministry of Health also issued new advice to health professionals yesterday about identifying possible cases of the virus, by adding Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand as countries of a higher level of interest when diagnosing patients.

Anyone who has visited those countries in the previous two weeks who develops flu-like symptoms should phone Healthline's Covid-19 number 0800 358 5453 or phone their GP.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced a change to its Travel Advice for Japan last night, advising New Zealanders to exercise increased caution in Japan due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

The Minister of Health David Clark and the Ministry of Health were not available to be interviewed this morning.

Medical epidemiologist from the University of Otago Professor Michael Baker spoke to Susie Ferguson and said the virus is now behaving like a pandemic.

The Sunwolves have confirmed their Super Rugby match against the Crusaders scheduled for 14 March in Tokyo will not be held in Japan due to the coronavirus.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Barack Obama has made a rare intervention in the 2020 White House race to blast a "despicable" racially charged attack ad against Joe Biden.

A pro-Trump group put out the clip that twists Obama's own words in order to undermine the Democratic contender.

The clip was called South Carolina, Joe Biden Can't Be Trusted. Katie Hill, Obama's communications director, said in a statement "this despicable ad is straight out of the Republican disinformation playbook."

Biden is hoping the black vote in South Carolina's primary on Saturday will revive his campaign.

Obama has observed neutrality in the race, refusing to endorse a contender.

Hill reiterated that Obama "has several friends in this race, including, of course, his own esteemed vice-president", but "has no plans to endorse in the primary".

A leading international expert in literacy says a new dyslexia resource for schools represents a breakthrough in the way the Education Ministry treats the learning disability.

Emeritus professor James Chapman from Massey University says he's heartened by the emphasis on phonetic awareness - teaching children how to read by linking letters and sounds.

When was the last time you used a cheque?

Kiwibank, Inland Revenue and ACC will stop accepting them as payment as of this weekend - and other banks are expected to follow suit.

However, the National Party has started a petition to stop the move.

Revenue spokesperson Andrew Bayly speaks to Susie Ferguson