RNZ - All Programmes

Coronavirus: Domestic travel allowed under Alert Level 2

May 07, 2020 19:18 - 5 minutes - 5.47 MB

The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown has been devastating for the tourism industry, with job losses and closures throughout the country. But with news restrictions on domestic travel will lift under Alert Level 2, the sector has been given a shot of adrenaline. Chris Roberts is chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa. He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Coronavirus: Businesses want more details on Alert Level 2

May 07, 2020 19:15 - 3 minutes - 2.93 MB

Restaurant owners, gyms and retailers say they need more detail about how to operate under Alert Level 2. The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has offered a broad outline of how businesses could open should restrictions ease. Ardern said each business can work out its own situation but a basic principle of distancing and hygiene is needed. Ben Strang reports.

Coronavirus: Preparation begins for Alert Level 2 restrictions

May 07, 2020 19:09 - 5 minutes - 5.1 MB

Staggered starts at work, buses running at maximum while half full, and limits on the lifts are among the prospects facing office workers heading into Covid-19 Alert Level 2. Everyone will find out on Monday if this will go ahead. Phil Pennington reports.

Business News for 8 May 2020

May 07, 2020 18:53 - 4 minutes - 4.1 MB

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Coronavirus: Māori testing jump a relief - academic

May 07, 2020 18:46 - 2 minutes - 2.22 MB

Māori academic Rawiri Taonui says it's a relief to see a surge in the rate of Māori being tested for Covid-19. Ministry of Health figures show in April, the rate of Māori testing jumped from 16 per 1000 to 24. Rawiri Taonui told RNZ Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama Mclachlan that's good news.

Coronavirus: Secondary schools call for financial relief

May 07, 2020 18:43 - 2 minutes - 2.63 MB

Secondary school principals are angry the Government is not helping them cover millions of dollars in lost income from international students. They say it is unfair that private schools have been able get just over $9 million from the Government wage subsidy, but state funded schools get nothing. The Auckland Secondary Principals Association says its pleas for a solution appear to be falling on deaf ears and the Minister of Education has refused to meet them. RNZ reporter Anan Zaki has t...

Coronavirus: Alert Level 2 a 'transition to safer normal' - PM

May 07, 2020 18:40 - 3 minutes - 3.09 MB

With restaurants, bars, beauty salons and professional sports set to return in Alert Level 2, some normality in a post-covid world seems imminent, but the Prime Minister is warning it is just another transition to a new normal. Ahead of Monday's decison on whether it will change alert levels the Government is letting the public know what to expect under a lower alert level. Here's political reporter Charlie Dreaver with the details.

Morning Rural News for 8 May 2020

May 07, 2020 18:22 - 4 minutes - 4.19 MB

News from the rural and farming sector.

Coronavirus: UK economy predicted to shrink 14 percent

May 07, 2020 18:20 - 5 minutes - 4.7 MB

Gloomy economic warnings are also being felt in Europe. The day after the EU was warned of a financial "shock without precedent", in the UK a new scenario has been drawn up by the Bank of England which predicts the sharpest recession on record. While the projections from the Bank aren't forecasts - as the governor says there's still too much uncertainty about to make forecasts - it predicts the UK economy will shrink by 14 percent this year. The Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Ba...

Early Business News for 8 May 2020

May 07, 2020 18:20 - 3 minutes - 2.79 MB

A brief update from the business sector.

Coronavirus: Jobless migrant workers struggle

May 07, 2020 18:15 - 3 minutes - 3.5 MB

Unemployed migrant workers caught in the cracks amid the Covid-19 crisis say they're still not getting enough help from authorities here or in their home countries. The First Union's Network of Migrants says food parcels are the only assistance the workers can get. The jobless workers say they have been struggling and help is nowhere to be found. Chen Liu reports.

Drought-stricken farmers want more government support

May 07, 2020 18:12 - 2 minutes - 2 MB

A Hawke's Bay farming family says farmers affected by the double whammy of drought and Covid-19 restrictions should be eligible for the wage subsidy or other government help. The Dasents from Maraekakaho, near Hastings, have had to sell half their stock and are struggling to find enough feed for the rest of their cattle and sheep because of the region's drought. Jeremy Dasent and his daughter Rhea told RNZ reporter Anusha Bradley government support to farmers is too little, too late.

Coronavirus: Auckland Transport planning to run at 45 pct capacity

May 07, 2020 18:09 - 3 minutes - 3.04 MB

Auckland's public transport network could turn commuters away under Alert Level 2 because of distancing requirements on its vehicles. The city's ferries and trains will join buses in returning to their regular day-time timetables after running reduced services for the last few weeks. Stacey van der Putten from Auckland Transport told RNZ reporter Phil Pennington it won't be able to carry as many passengers as it usually does.

6am World, Pacific and Sports news for 8 May 2020

May 07, 2020 18:00 - 9 minutes - 8.7 MB

The latest World, Pacific and Sports news

Recycling Soft Plastics

May 07, 2020 10:40 - 9 minutes - 8.82 MB

The Packaging Forum's Lyn Mayes gives us the latest on New Zealand's soft plastics recycling programme.

Community Resilience and Community Radio

May 07, 2020 10:20 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

We're joined by Whetu Fala, Station Manager of AwaFM in Whanganui.

Probing the hidden continent of Zealandia

May 07, 2020 09:06 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MB

Ocean floor rock cores drilled into the sunken continent of Zealandia are revolutionising our understanding of Earth's history and how continents form.

Our Changing World for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 09:05 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MB

Geologists are probing the secrets of the hidden continent of Zealandia, and ants and viruses from the archives.

ABC Wantok program for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 08:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MB

The Wantok program brought to you by Pacific Media Network

Vanuatu Nightly News for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 07:30 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

Vanuatu Nightly News brought to you by Pacific Media Network

News in Solomon Islands Pidgin for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 07:00 - 5 minutes - 5.26 MB

The latest Solomon Islands Pidgin news

7pm Pacific regional news for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 07:00 - 8 minutes - 7.54 MB

The latest Pacific regional news

Attacks and ripostes: highlights from Question Time

May 07, 2020 06:55 - 4 minutes - 6.21 MB

In a week when the leaders of government and opposition have been practically ubiquitous, we have a summary of their main attacks and ripostes.

Aotea Great Barrier locals ready to turn away tourists at wharf

May 07, 2020 06:24 - 4 minutes - 3.84 MB

Tourists who dock on the shores of Aotea Great Barrier Island could soon be turned away, with some locals preparing to set up a checkpoint there during alert level 2. Checkpoint organiser Kelly Klink says with no hospital on the island and elderly making up a large proportion of the population, it is a necessary step to keep the island safe. But police have made it absolutely clear they will not support it. Te Aniwa Hurihanganui reports.

Covid-19: The alert level 2 rules for sport in NZ

May 07, 2020 06:23 - 4 minutes - 3.79 MB

Professional domestic sport is back on under alert level 2 - but the stands will be empty. Rules banning mass gatherings will still apply, so fans will have to head to their couches. Sport and Recreation minister Grant Robertson made the announcement today as we got a better look at what Level 2 would look like. And while it's good news for fans of Super Rugby and premiership netball, which have already confirmed they will be back, the future of sport - especially for women - is a lot mo...

Water restrictions in Auckland as drought won't relent

May 07, 2020 06:14 - 4 minutes - 4.47 MB

Auckland Council will impose mandatory water restrictions for the first time in more than 25 years as the city faces its worst drought in history. The past four months have been the driest on record - pushing water storage lake levels below 50 percent for the first time since the 1994 drought. On Thursday Auckland Council's Emergency Committee voted unanimously to introduce the restrictions - deciding the city cannot continue to wait and hope more rain will come. Anneke Smith reports.

Al Brown describes how restaurants will work under level 2

May 07, 2020 06:06 - 8 minutes - 7.54 MB

Restaurateur Al Brown is champing at the bit to reopen when New Zealand's Covid-19 level 3 lockdown eases to level 2. Brown's three Auckland businesses - Depot, Federal Delicatessen and Best Ugly Bagels - have been closed under level 4 and level 3 lockdown. So Thursday's announcement on level 2 rules brought some hope. But for those in the business of food and drink, the new-found freedoms come with strict rules. Under level 2, restaurants and bars have to be able to seat all customers. ...

Chow co-owner describes running business on a knife-edge

May 07, 2020 05:56 - 3 minutes - 3.39 MB

Chow restaurant is a well-known casual dining spot in central Wellington and employs 35 staff. The booths and tables at Chow can usually seat up to 176 people, but takeaways have kept the business ticking over in level 3. Like most other restaurants in the city though, income is still far below pre-Covid levels. Chow's co-owner Rob Scott spoke with Checkpoint reporter Logan Church about running a business on a knife-edge.

Young Act vice president quits over sexual harrassment

May 07, 2020 05:52 - 3 minutes - 2.98 MB

Young Act's former Vice President has labelled the youth wing an unsafe place for women, after her complaints of sexual harassment were ignored. Ali Gammeter has told RNZ she resigned from her role as Vice President last night because she had been experiencing the inappropriate behaviour for months and nothing was done. The youth wing has admitted the incidents were harmful and has announced an investigation into what happened. The Act Party also announced a short time ago it has appoint...

Hawke's Bay farmers go online to fight drought woes together

May 07, 2020 05:48 - 4 minutes - 4.24 MB

A Facebook page for Hawke's Bay farmers struggling with severe drought is being credited with saving lives. The lack of rain, lack of feed and trouble selling, or sending stock to the meat works because of Covid-19 restrictions is putting untold pressures on farmers. But as Anusha Bradley and Dom Thomas found, one young farmer's efforts are providing a little relief to those in need.

Thousands made redundant as tourism businesses enter hibernation

May 07, 2020 05:42 - 4 minutes - 4.32 MB

Thousands of tourism workers have been made redundant as businesses scramble for capital and cut their size. Many are entering hibernation. This is an industry that previously supported close to 400,000 jobs. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton spoke to workers to find out how they're coping.

Economic recovery focus of NZ Budget 2020 - Finance Minister

May 07, 2020 05:38 - 4 minutes - 4.2 MB

A 'staging post' for New Zealand's recovery from Covid-19 - that's how the Finance Minister described Budget 2020 in a speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce - given via video link on Thursday. Grant Robertson said this year's Budget is far from business as usual, with many of the government's well-laid plans now on ice - replaced with a singular focus - economic recovery and rebuilding. But National is raising concerns about the need for a responsible government at the helm to man...

Evening business for 7 May 2020

May 07, 2020 05:32 - 6 minutes - 5.95 MB

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Couriers win right to fight for better work conditions

May 07, 2020 05:26 - 3 minutes - 3.31 MB

Courier drivers may be able to argue for better pay, holiday and sick leave and generally better working conditions following a ruling by the Employment Court on Thursday. The court has found an Auckland driver, who worked 10 hours days and received less than the minimum wage, was in fact an employee of Parcel Express, the company he worked for - despite them arguing he was a contractor. It could have major implications for the industry - with many drivers working harder than ever during...

Covid-19: Level 2 rules - what you need to know

May 07, 2020 05:11 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

If level 2 gets the green light, hairdressers, restaurants, domestic travel, gyms, home cleaners and more are all go. The Reserve Bank estimates the four-and-a-half-week lockdown under level 4 cost $10 billion in lost productivity, and if New Zealand is under level 3 restrictions for a similar amount of time it will cost us another $5 billion. So for many businesses, getting open soon is the difference between economically surviving the pandemic or not. But the new normal has new rules t...

Covid-19: Level 2 to be a 'safer version of normal'

May 07, 2020 05:07 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MB

New Zealand has been promised a "safer version of normal" under Level Two - as the Prime Minister signals what life might look like when restrictions relax. The country is on track to drop out of Alert Level Three next week - with just one new case of Covid-19 recorded on Thursday - following two days of zero this week. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has the story.

Auckand Council votes in favour of regional water restrictions

May 07, 2020 04:52 - 6 minutes - 5.76 MB

Watercare CEO Raveen Jaduram speaks to the panel about water restrictions throughout the region from next week.

Call for essential workers to be paid a living wage

May 07, 2020 04:46 - 5 minutes - 4.95 MB

There's a call for essential workers who continued in their jobs during alert level four lockdown to be paid a living wage.

Fast tracking certain infrastructure projects

May 07, 2020 04:43 - 3 minutes - 3.24 MB

A couple of days ago the government announced that certain infrastructure projects will be sped through the consents process. Fundamentally the idea is to get projects started as soon as possible to safeguard jobs and ensure large-scale builds don't topple under the pressure imposed by lockdown...

Questions raised about the legality of the lockdown

May 07, 2020 04:34 - 8 minutes - 7.98 MB

Legal experts have raised questions about the legality of the lock down in New Zealand. Waikato University Professor of Law Al Gillespie joins the discussion.

I've been thinking for 5 May 2020

May 05, 2020 03:55 - 5 minutes - 5.16 MB

Panellists Catherine Robertson and Mike Rehu share what they've been thinking about.

Story of the Day for 5 May 2020

May 05, 2020 03:49 - 4 minutes - 4.57 MB

More and more people are using video chat to communicate during the Covid-19 lockdown. And many are using their bookshelves as their background. This, as Amelia Langford discovers, offers some so-called 'bookcase credibility' and a Twitter account is now collecting some of the best 'shelfies'.

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