Morning Report

The Milford Track is reopening next week after storm damage caused rockfalls and slips.

Tourists and New Zealanders will be able to walk a shortened version of the popular track.

Eugenie Sage is the Minister for Conservation.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has used a billboard in New York's Times Square to thank their local and American volunteers.

"Imagine fighting a bushfire higher than this billboard," the sign reads. "Thank you to the brave Australian and US firefighters defending Australia. And to the world for your support."

One of those who helped out is Canterbury University student Fergus Simpson, who at 22 is one of the youngest New Zealanders to volunteer.

He was in the rural town of Tumut on a four month forestry internship when he was volunteered to help fight the fires.

Simpson has just arrived back from Australia and told RNZ reporter Eleisha Foon he had never experienced heat like it.

If Covid-19 is not contained over the next few weeks, an industry analyst is predicting more international flights will be cancelled.

Air New Zealand, China Southern, Sichuan Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific have all reduced or stopped flights to China.

Andy Bowley is an aviation analyst at Forsyth Barr.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Malcolm Rewa's bid to overturn his conviction for murdering Auckland woman Susan Burdett will be heard in the Court of Appeal today.

Last year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of bludgeoning Burdett to death in her South Auckland home in 1992.

Rewa's sentencing was thought to be the final chapter in a case that spanned decades - and resulted in the wrongful conviction and incarceration of Teina Pora. But it's all to get another airing in court.

RNZ reporter Sarah Robson speaks to Susie Ferguson.

A new face will join candidates for the US Democratic presidential nomination on stage later today as they slug it out in another live televised debate.

Former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has seen his poll ratings climb high enough to qualify for a place.

He's spending huge amounts of his own money on TV ads, rallies and staff, banking on a breakthrough on next month's so-called Super Tuesday when 14 states hold their primaries.

If he wins the nomination, he'll be squaring off against Donald Trump, and the President is already taking aim via twitter: "Is corrupt Bloomberg News going to say what a pathetic debater Mini Mike is, that he doesn't respect our great farmers, or that he has violated campaign finance laws at the highest and most sinister level with 'payoffs' all over the place?"

Bloomberg's response?

"Impeached president says what?"

US correspondent Kevin McAleese speaks to Corin Dann.

Schools are increasingly resisting attempts to make them enrol children who have been kicked out of other schools for violent behaviour.

Principals say they are facing a "growing sea of violence" and the Education Ministry has told MPs that it has become difficult to use its legal power to direct schools to enrol such students.

Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen.

Jami-Lee Ross is once again proclaiming his innocence, as he heads off to court next week - along with three others - to face Serious Fraud Office charges.

This is just the latest twist in a political drama that began in late 2018 when Ross unleashed against the National Party and its leader Simon Bridges with allegations of electoral fraud.

RNZ political editor, Jane Patterson, filed this report.

Two of the eight New Zealanders due to fly home from Tokyo this morning have tested positive for Covid-19 and have not been allowed to board the Qantas charter flight to Darwin.

They were diagnosed during final medical checks and are being treated in a hospital in Japan.

Over the past two weeks more than 620 passengers on the Diamond Princess have contracted the the Covid-19 virus, 79 in just the last day.

The 2500 crew and passengers remaining on the ship will be able to go home over the next 2 days but there are fears some of those leaving will be part of a fresh wave of global infections.

The New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor didn't expect to be in the Black Caps for long.

News from the business sector, including a market report.