Morning Report

The Pike River Recovery Agency says it needs more money and forensic workers to speed up the re-entry process.

The Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry is Andrew Little. He said the project is well within budget right now, but it has taken longer than expected.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

US President Donald Trump's impeachment trial has resumed today. On the agenda is arguments by the prosecution, to be followed by the defence and questions.

RNZ's correspondent in Washington DC is Simon Marks.

The man who murdered Grace Millane has left his landlord thousands of dollars in the red.

He's been ordered to pay CityLife $5,500, but the landlord doesn't expect to see a cent of the money owed given his former tenant is in custody awaiting a lengthy jail sentence.

RNZ court reporter Anneke Smith has been looking at a Tenancy Tribunal decision on this and joins us now.

Labour MPs are kicking off the election year with a brainstorming session on how they can prove to voters they have delivered.

The Prime Minister threw down the "Year of Delivery" gauntlet at last year's retreat.

But Jacinda Ardern won't be dwelling on 2019 today.

Political reporter Yvette McCullough will be in Martinborough for today's retreat.

The death toll from the new respitory virus found in Wuhan in China has increased.

Out of 500 infections, 17 people have now died.

Cases have also been reported in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the US.

Officials in China have advised people to stop travelling into and out of Wuhan.

Those living in the city of 11 million have also been told to avoid crowds and minimise public gatherings.

China's National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin gave the warning in one of the first public briefings since the beginning of the outbreak.

Back in NZ, a boy who became ill with a fever on a plane from Sydney to Christchurch is under observation in Christchurch Hospital.

The plane the child was travelling on was met by an ambulance yesterday and the boy taken to hospital for assessment.

The Canterbury District Health Board says it's not thought the child has the deadly coronavirus from Wuhan based on the child's travel history and clinical assessment.

New Zealanders are being assured there are tight controls in place for any rocket cargo launched from New Zealand for foreign military or defence clients.

Rocket Lab's next launch is for a American military agency, responsible for US intelligence satellites.

Each launch requires ministerial sign-off but some payloads are banned under the law - for example any carrying nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction.

But the Greens say there are serious risks for New Zealand and the law should be tougher.

As Economic Development Minister, Phil Twyford signs off on the authorisations.

He told our political editor Jane Patterson the space industry's growing fast, but there's a robust approval system in place.

Thousands of workers in the German city of Cologne were ordered to evacuate after a 500kg World War II bomb was discovered.

Construction workers unearthed the bomb by chance.

The bomb has now been defused.

RNZ's correspondent in Berlin is Thomas Sparrow.

Communities in the Australian state of Victoria have been urged to prepare for a severe fire risk today.

Blazes continue to burn in East Gippsland in the state's northeast, despite the wet weather that's been aiding firefighting efforts.

The Country Fire Authority says the Western and Central districts of the state are at risk of new fires starting today.

The chief officer, Steve Warrington says the biggest threat is coming from the severe heat in the west.

ABC's Kellie Lazzaro speaks to Morning Report.

On Sunday night, people in the Bay of Plenty jumped into their cars after sirens went off - but that turned out to be a false alarm.

Yesterday the director of the National Emergency Management Agency Sarah Stuart-Black reassured us that everyone - even people in remote communities - would receive a clear tsunami alert when one is needed.

The official advice is if it's long and strong, be gone. It's advice that the township of Te Araroa took to heart in 2016 when a strong early morning earthquake shook them awake.

Aomihi Cook spoke to us back then as she waited on Hospital Hill for the all clear.

Cook reflected on her experience four years on for Morning Report.

Kōura, pāua and kina are staple foods in Tairāwhiti, but future generations are unlikely to get a chance to enjoy them. 

That's one of the key climate change impacts on East Coast communities that will be discussed at a summit in Tairāwhiti today. 

 

Iwi representatives, 150 councillors, industry leaders and locals are gathering at Te Tino o Porou Conference centre, for the first in a series of regional climate summits.

Meriana Johnsen reports.