Morning Report

Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs have refused an offer to meet with Canadian cabinet ministers from the federal and provincial governments until the Canadian Police leave their lands.

Indigenous activists and supporters are staging protests, blocking roads and rail lines across the country in support of the fight against the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Trade association Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters said the situation is "beyond serious" and estimates that goods worth about $425 million were being stranded every day the blockades continue.

CN Rail is laying off hundreds of workers.

Correspondent Laura McQuillan speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Despite an urgent meeting about Wellington's ageing and leaking sewerage system it's still not clear when the problems are going to be fixed.

The mayor and councillors met with city's water company yesterday but kept the public and the media out.

Charlotte Cook reports.

An Auckland man who has spent two weeks stuck on a cruise ship in Japan quarantined due to a rampaging Covid-19 oubreak on board says New Zealand health officials should have rescued them sooner.

Wren Manuel and his wife Kay were among eight New Zealanders due to arrive in Auckland tonight via Darwin, but now face another fortnight in isolation at Whangaparaoa.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A visiting United Nations representative says the country's housing crisis is a significant human-rights issue - and it's time the right to housing was wrenched from the hands of the private market.

Leilani Farha is what's known as a special rapporteur - she's been in the country for 10 days to independently investigate the state of New Zealand's housing.

Eva Corlett was at her news conference in Wellington.

Trucking firms are being urged to hold onto their staff as long as possible with the promise work will return once the Covid-19 threat subsides.

National Road Carriers Association chief executive David Aitken says they expected the industry would slow as less goods were able to be imported and exported.

He told RNZ reporter Emma Hatton trucking firms will feel the squeeze, but is urging them to do all but lay off staff or sell assets.

In a situation that probably doesn't happen often, the White Ferns offered some advise to their opponents after yesterday's T20 World Cup game against Thailand in Adelaide.

Two more New Zealanders on the Diamond Princess cruise ship test positive for coronavirus and not allowed to fly home. Ex-husband is blamed as Brisbane mother and their three children burn to death in a car. Jami-Lee Ross says he broke no laws when handling National Party donations. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg lines up to debate Democratic presidential contenders.

Democrats have not yet had a chance to cast a vote for the former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg to run against Donald Trump in November's presidential election.

He won't appear on a state primary ballot until next month. But the media billionaire has already broken spending records for an American political campaign - it's estimated he's so far spent at least US$360 million and is spending more than a million a day on Facebook alone.

Bloomberg's ad blitz is working - he's jumped to second behind Bernie Sanders in national polls as the preferred Democratic candidate.

That surge means he will be on the stage tomorrow for a debate in Las Vegas among the front runner.

Correspondent Nick Harper speaks to Corin Dann from Washington.