Morning Report

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A widowed dairy farmer in Marlborough says a logging operation nearby is going to destroy her farm.

The company want to use a paper road running across her land to run their trucks along - but she says they've tried to do it behind her back.

Lone Sorenson says told RNZ reporter Tracey Neal she's been kept in the dark.

An Auckland ferry company is asking authorities to intervene urgently over delays it's blaming on cruise ships.

Fullers says two cruise ships forced it to cancel three ferries packed with commuters and that's upset Waiheke ferry passengers.

Waiheke resident Chloe Barker, told RNZ reporter Mackenzie Smith islanders are increasingly frustrated by delays and cancellations.

Auckland Transport says the cruise ships are not the cause of the congestion problem.

China is desperately trying to keep a deadly new virus from spreading as millions of Chinese prepare to travel at home and overseas for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Coronavirus has killed six people so far and infected hundreds more, countries like the United States and Australia have tightened their airport screening.

The World Health Organisation is holding an emergency meeting today to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency.

Corin Dann spoke to Professor Kurt Krause from the Department of Biochemistry at University of Otago.

He said the virus was related to SARS which is why it's caused so much international panic.

Tennis World number one Rafael Nadal was happy he found his rhythm early as he scored a straight sets victory in his first match at the Australian Open.

A young Auckland University student has realised a dream - creating an "earth sandwich".

Etienne Naude and a counterpart in Spain have placed slices of bread on precise points, either side of the planet, 20,000 kilometres apart The men used longitude and latitude to make sure they were precisely opposite.

Etienne Naude speaks to Philippa Tolley.

A young Auckland University student has realised a dream - creating an "earth sandwich". Etienne Naude and a counterpart in Spain have placed slices of bread on precise points, either side of the planet, 20,000 kilometres apart The men used longitude and latitude to make sure they were precisely opposite. Etienne Naude speaks to Philippa Tolley.

The Mayor of Whanganui says he accepts responsibility for delays in the construction of the Upokongaro Cycle Bridge on State Highway 4 - a crucial link in the Mountain to Sea and National cycleways.

The structure has been parked in a paddock on the western riverbank since late 2018 - and is now jokingly referred to as the region's "second bridge to nowhere".

RNZ Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Police on the East Coast have been told to carry firearms with them after gang brawls in the Napier suburb of Taradale and Ruatoria.

Thirty to forty Mongrel Mob and Black Power members fought in broad daylight outside a McDonalds on Sunday and one man was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.

In Ruatoria on Saturday shots were fired between people in two cars and a person at a house.

But a lifetime member of Black Power is objecting to police drawing links between the two shootings, saying it could make tensions worse.

Denis O'Reilly says gang violence should be treated as a public health issue - like a virus that needs to be carefully contained.