Morning Report

Universities fear the temporary travel ban on foreigners from China is going to be a big financial hit.

They enrol about 15,000 Chinese students but it's not yet known how many have already arrived and how many might still be at home.

The Universities say up to three quarters may be caught up in the two week ban which could be extended.

The academic year starts in March.

.Harry Lock has more.

The government has backed down on its promise to ban certain elements of rodeo.

Prior to the 2017 election, Labour's animal welfare spokesperson Trevor Mallard said flank straps, electric prodders and calf roping would be banned, and if that meant the end of rodeo, so be it.

Nearly three years on, the Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says banning those things is off the table for now.

Ben Strang reports.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to victory in a supposedly "unwinnable" election.

The Liberal Party's New South Wales deputy campaign director Nick Westenberg gave a presentation to the National caucus at its retreat in Havelock North yesterday.

Afterwards, he sat down with RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch to discuss some of the lessons from across the ditch.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

As sales of ebikes continue to accelerate, pensioners now account for more than 40 percent of ebike crashes resulting in claims to ACC.

Figures released to RNZ show the agency had 704 active ebike injury claims by the end of last year, of which 307 involved people 65 and older.

RNZ reporter Robin Martin has more.

New Zealand's sharemarket dropped sharply yesterday then bounced back, reflecting global market concerns about the coronavirus.

Markets have been responding to the virus with risk averse strategies.

Imre Speizer is a markets strategist at Westpac.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Log traders are fearful job losses are on the cards amid trade uncertainty due to the Novel Coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China.

Logs from New Zealand are shipped to China and then transported to sawmills but there's uncertainty if these will reopen as normal after the Chinese New Year holiday.

Minister for Trade David Parker speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Jobs are at risk as New Zealand log exporters brace themselves for problems with their supply chain due to the outbreak of the new Coronavirus.

Logs from New Zealand are shipped to China and then transported to sawmills but there's uncertainty if these will reopen as normal after the Chinese New Year holiday.

The Forest Owners Association says some companies are already reducing their harvesting rate and this will reduce employment.

Peter Weir is the president of the Forest Owners Association.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

All dressed up with nowhere to go, the Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown admits having a bye in the first round of Super Rugby was a little strange.

The Iowa caucuses take place today, kicking off the long process of nominating a Democratic presidential candidate to face Donald Trump in November's US election.

While victory in Iowa doesn't guarantee anyone the nomination, it is highly influential and gives the winning candidate a big boost in momentum.

RNZ's correspodent in Iowa is Kate Fisher.