Morning Report

Documents show the Education Review Office was poised to give a positive review to an early childhood service that had broken so many rules the Education Ministry wanted to shut it down.

Ministry briefing papers say the review office was preparing it's report on the home-based service at the same time the ministry was drafting a suspension notice to close it temporarily.

Early childhood insiders say its not uncommon for the ministry and ERO to reach different conclusions about providers.

RNZ's education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

The White House has issued a formal threat to former national security adviser John Bolton to keep him from publishing his upcoming book, saying it contains significant amounts of classified information, including some that was considered "TOP SECRET".

President Donald Trump has launched a twitter attack on his former adviser for writing a "nasty and untrue book", saying he was fired "because frankly, if I listened to him we would be in World War Six by now".

It comes as Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, signalled he may not have the votes to block the Democrats' efforts to call witnesses, including Bolton, in the president's impeachment trial.

RNZ's correspondent in Washington is Simon Marks.

The dreaded Super Over strikes again. The World Cup wasn't at stake this time for the Black Caps, but the loss did hand India the T20 series.

Kane Williamson almost got his side home in regulation overs in the third T20 international in Hamilton scoring 95, however the two sides finished tied on 179.

Chasing 18 in the extra over, Indian star Rohit Sharma belted the last two balls for six to give the tourists victory and a 3-nil lead in the 5 game series.

After the match, Williamson was asked whether the team was getting used to losing at the last moment.

Travel companies in New Zealand are cancelling tours to China amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

It comes after a directive from the Chinese government. One of those is Flight Centre - which has dropped all planned tours until April.

Its Head of Product Victoria Courtney speaks to Corin Dann.

There's been another arson at a settlement along the eastern shore of Lake Taupō, bringing the number to six, but police say it's too early to say it's the work of a serial arsonist.

Five properties at Hatepe, Tauranga, Taupō and Waitetoko were set alight on 12 January.

One had a family inside but all managed to escape safely.

On Sunday, furniture on a deck was set alight.

About 300 people met on the Waitetoko Marae last night to get an update and to plea for help from police.

Andrew McRae was there.

An emergency evacuation flight from China has arrived in the US at a military base outside Los Angeles, and passengers are now being screened.

The passengers had been in Wuhan at the centre of the outbreak of Coronavirus, which has now killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000.

RNZ's correspondent Danielle Robertson speaks to Susie Ferguson from the March Air Reserve Base in California.

A New Zealander in Wuhan says she's relieved the Government is planning to evacuate them from the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak.

The first wave of chartered evacuation flights from Wuhan at the centre of the outbreak have left China for the US, and earlier for Japan.

The virus has infected more than 6000 people and more than 130 have died.

China has reported more infections from the new coronavirus than it had from an outbreak of SARS in 2002 to 2003, although the current death toll is much lower.

Jacinda Ardern says she spoke with Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, yesterday about a joint evacuation effort.

There are 53 New Zealanders registered as being in Wuhan.

Morrison says evacuated Australians will be held on Christmas Island for two weeks before returning to Australia, and he wants to get the young and old out first.

Ardern says quarantine arrangements for New Zealanders are still being worked on by officials.

Lily Gao and her three-year-old daughter are visiting family for Chinese New Year.

Her husband is in New Zealand.

She told RNZ reporter Jordan Bond she'd be happy to go somewhere like Christmas Island to ensure she doesn't bring the virus back here.

The Serious Fraud Office is pursuing criminal charges against four people in relation to donations paid into a National Party bank account, but their identity is likely to remain secret for some time.

The National Party says neither the leader Simon Bridges, nor the party, are among those charged.

The agency launched an investigation in March last year after the police referred on a complaint by former National MP Jami-Lee Ross.

RNZ political editor Jane Patterson, speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The Government is under fire from environmentalists for too great a focus on roads in the massive infrastructure spend announced yesterday.

More than $5 billion will be spent on roads, with $2.2 billion going to Auckland.

Former Greens MP Sue Bradford says the focus on roads is a blow to the government's environmental credibility.

Opposition leader Simon Bridges, on the other hand, is accusing the Government of stealing National's transport plans.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson speaks to Corin Dann.

Jacinda Ardern says she spoke with Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, yesterday about a joint evacuation effort for Kiwis trapped in Wuhan due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

There are 53 New Zealanders registered as being in Wuhan.

Morrison says evacuated Australians will be held on Christmas Island for two weeks before returning to Australia, and he wants to get the young and old out first.

Ardern says quarantine arrangements for New Zealanders are still being worked on by officials.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters speaks to Susie Ferguson.