17 Aug 2020

Covid-19: Prime Minister to unveil election date decision as opponents call for delay

From Morning Report, 7:08 am on 17 August 2020

New Zealand will find out at 10am on Monday morning if the election will go ahead on 19 September, or whether it will be delayed because of the Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland .

The decision is solely in the hands of the Prime Minister and there's plenty of pressure on her - with parties including her coalition partner New Zealand First lining up to argue for a delay until 21 Novmber.

The constitutional clock is also ticking with the dissolution of Parliament scheduled to take place today, after being delayed last week.

If dissolution does not go ahead on Monday, a date later than September 19 will have to be chosen.

Here's RNZ political editor, Jane Patterson.