Midday Report for Tuesday 31 March 2020

12:00 PM.MPs have been told a lockdown in itself won't be enough to eliminate Covid-19 - testing and tracing need to be ramped up, and more effort made to ensure those returning to New Zealand are strictly… Read more Audio

12:12 PM.A lockdown in itself won't be enough to eliminate Covid-19 in New Zealand, Parliament's Epidemic Committee has been told.

The Health Minister, David Clark, and the Director General of Health, Ashley… Read more Audio

12:15 PM.The Prime Minister is expected to extend New Zealand's state of emergency for a further seven days this afternoon.

The hasty announcement of the state of emergency last week, and enactment of the… Read more Audio

12:19 PM.Air New Zealand is discussing with the government its options regarding the employee wage subsidy, as the company looks to lay off at least a third of its staff.

The national carrier is expecting a… Read more Audio

12:28 PM.The New Zealand Olympic Committee is waiting on confirmation of qualification details for different sports as they look to build towards a team of over 200 athletes ahead of next year's games.

… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.The industry says the spread of Covid-19 around the world is having a serious impact on demand for deer products.

Andrew McRae has the rural news. Read more Audio

12:43 PM.Business New Zealand is calling on the Government to delay tomorrow's minimum wage increase by nine months.

Its chief executive, Kirk Hope, spoke to Māni Dunlop. Read more Audio

12:45 PM.People are being urged not to dip into their Kiwisaver fund to get them through the Covid-19 lockdown.

It is possible to access Kiwisaver through a hardship grant, but the Retirement Commissioner… Read more Audio