The pressure is on for the Government to prove it is delivering for Māori as MP’S make their annual pilgrimage to Rātana Pā today; and the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it’s too early to declare the coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency.
1.The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it’s too early to declare the coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency. The respiratory illness has claimed the lives of 18 people in China and hundreds are sick.
2.Technical experts will meet this morning to guide health officials on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to New Zealand. The Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay told morning report they are looking at how it can increase screening at New Zealand’s borders.
3.Picton’s port is being evacuated as emergency services respond to a volatile gas leak on a truck and trailer unit on an Interislander ferry. KiwiRail reported the incident on the Kaiarahi at 6.10am when the ferry was about 50 minutes away from port.
4.One person is dead following a police chase in Rotokawa, near Taupō, early this morning. Police say the incident took place after a vehicle was spotted driving dangerously near a fatal crash scene, and failed to stop for police.
5.A sawmill that employs hundreds of workers in Whangarei is facing potential closure. Carter Holt Harvey says it began consulting yesterday with staff at the mill. Its Chief Executive Clayton Harris says following a major upgrade to increase productivity its Kawerau and Nelson sawmills now have the capacity to service all domestic customers.
6.The lawyer leading the case against Myanmar’s Government at the UN’s highest Court has hailed its verdict. The International Court of Justice has ruled it can hear a case of genocide against Myanmar for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims.
7.Officials are warning of an extreme fire danger ahead of the weekend which is expected to bring temperatures of more than 30 degrees. Parts of Northland and Waikato are already dangerously near drought status and its feared the hot weather may exacerbate this.
8.Significantly more people have been dieing in work related deaths than has previously been reported. WorkSafe’s new fatality summary shows 64 people died in 2018.
9.The pressure is on for the Government to prove it is delivering for Māori as MP’S make their annual pilgrimage to Rātana Pā today. The festivities honoring the founder of the Rātana faith Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana began this week.
