Morning Report for Friday 20 March 2020

6:06 AM.The NRL could be thrown into turmoil this morning with the Warriors set to decide their immediate future in the competition following the travel restrictions. Read more Audio

6:19 AM.A Nelson scientist says New Zealand should look to Japan for lessons in how to develop a sense of purpose in a rising tide of panic.

Murray McClintock, his partner and their three children are now… Read more Audio

6:20 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Read more Audio

6:39 AM.New Zealand's borders are shut for the first time in history.

The call was made last night to close the border from one minute to midnight.

Jacinda Ardern says the significance of the decision is… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.New Zealanders planning an indoor wedding, a 21st or a funeral could be hit with a four thousand dollar fine or up to six months in jail if they invite more than a hundred people.

The crackdown is… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.The Covid-19 coronavirus is making its impact in the Pacific felt well beyond the economics of cancelled flights.

Fiji has its first confirmed case, New Caledonia is closing public places after the… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Read more Audio

7:06 AM.The NRL could be thrown into turmoil this morning with the Warriors set to decide their immediate future in the competition. Read more Audio

7:12 AM.The country's border closed to foreign travellers for the first time at midnight.

The announcement was made at 6pm on Thursday, giving people planning to fly less than six hours' notice.

It's one of… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.New Zealand's borders are shut for the first time in history.

The call was made last night to close the border from one minute to midnight.

Jacinda Ardern says the significance of the decision is… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Kiwis are struggling to get back into the country as the aviation industry severely reduces international flights and borders around the world abruptly close.

Some of the stranded now believe the New… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.Older New Zealanders and their families are planning what to do if they have to stay apart because of Covid-19.

In the UK, people over 70 have been told to prepare to self isolate for several weeks… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.The Health Minister says the testing for Covid-19 needs to focus on those suspected to have the virus, rather than anyone who is concerned.

David Clark speaks to Philippa Tolley. Read more Audio

7:44 AM.Supermarket shelves continue to run out of toilet paper and hand sanitiser as Covid-19 fears drive panic buying.

Countdown has introduced limits on some items, and Pak 'n' Save's owner Foodstuffs… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.Around 1100 hospital buildings or key parts of them are in poor or very poor condition, some unusable or facing imminent failure.

The first ever government stocktake of public health assets has been… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.An aviation commentator says Air New Zealand will need a bail out to the tune of around up to $3 billion.

The airline has slashed capacity on its long haul network, suspended flights and raised the… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.The fruit picking industry will be without thousands of workers as New Zealand locks its borders at the start of harvest season.

Nikki Johnson is the chief executive of New Zealand Kiwifruit growers.

7:57 AM.First it was supermarkets being cleaned out of toilet paper and hand sanitiser, but now it seems spooked shoppers have garden supplies in their sights as concerns about the Covid-19 virus grow.

… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The Warriors will decide this morning whether to stay in Australia or return to New Zealand and remove themselves from the NRL. Read more Audio

8:11 AM.The country's border closed to foreign travellers for the first time at midnight.

The announcement was made at 6pm on Thursday, giving people planning to fly less than six hours' notice.

It's one of… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.As Covid-19 cases continues to rise volunteer groups are getting organised to help people in isolation.

One Christchurch man got together with a group of friends to shop for those who can't go to the… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.New Zealanders in Australia who face months of unemployment or dramatically reduced working hours because of Covid-19 may have to do so with no financial assistance.

Of the 634,000 New Zealanders… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.The Reserve Bank has announced range of measures including term loans to banks, agreement with US Federal Reserve to access up to US$30 billion and intervening in markets to maintain stability.

Gyles… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.Pressure is mounting on the government to make a specific pandemic plan for Māori, who are at increased risk of falling ill.

Māori leaders are criticising the government for not engaging with them… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update on the movements in the financial sector. Read more Audio

8:40 AM.As new advice kicks in around social distancing to help combat the spread of Covid-19, challenges are emerging for public transport.

In Wellington yesterday, train platforms were crowded with… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.A leading provider of classes for pregnant people to learn about childbirth and meet other expectant parents are expanding online to counter the spread of Covid-19.

Parents Centre is offering… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.Two politicians who are among the thousands of New Zealanders in isolation are the Green Party's Chloe Swarbrick and National's Chris Bishop. Read more Audio

8:50 AM.A Wairarapa iwi is rallying around its most vulnerable amid the threat of Covid-19, preparing food packs and other essentials for every kaumātua in the rohe. 

The country's elderly are most at risk… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:59 AM.A Wairarapa gin distillery is trialling the production of hand sanitiser.

The rapid spread of Covid-19 has people clearing out shelves of hand sanitiser across the country and places like the… Read more Audio