Air New Zealand says it wants to make sure critical cargo transport lines are maintained during the national lockdown; and agencies are rushing to find accomodation for homeless people during the lockdown.
1.The man due to go on trial for the 15 March Christchurch mosque attacks has this morning pleaded guilty to all the charges he was facing. At the High Court in Christchurch, Brenton Tarrant admitted 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one under the Terrorism Suppression Act.
2.Streets throughout the country are quiet as the first day in Covid-19 lockdown comes into force. Only people with essential jobs or tasks are allowed out of their homes now as the country moves to alert level 4.
3.Agencies are rushing to find accomodation for homeless people during the lockdown. Many people are still living on the streets and in their cars. An organisation that works with the homeless in Auckland, Lifewise, housed 15 people yesterday but had to turn the same number away.
4.The Nurses Organisations says some District Health Boards and private providers are being negligent around their obligations to protect their staff. The Organisation is calling for nurses in hospitals and primary care to be given personal protective equipment.
5.Retail New Zealand says a large number of businesses will not survive the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisation’s chief executive Greg Harford welcomes the Government’s support for retailers but he says the sector was struggling before the global outbreak.
6.A Catatan Council worker who contracted Covid-19, says he has received some really harsh comments on social media. The Wairarapa man was one of the first two cases of suspected community transmission but he says he’s now been cleared by the public health board officials and is no longer contagious.
7.The chief executive of Fletcher Building Ross Taylor, says the clean up at the Sky City International Convention Centre had almost finished before the nation wide lockdown started.
8.Air New Zealand says it wants to make sure critical cargo transport lines are maintained during the national lockdown. It says it offers importers and exporters a range of charter options to keep cargo moving to and from New Zealand.
9.A biology expert Dr Nick Roberts is warning that if the level 4 restrictions are relaxed before Covid-19 is eliminated from New Zealand, there will be a slow build up of community spread again.
10.Former MP Hone Harawira, says he’s had overwhelming support from the police for an iwi checkpoint in Northland. Volunteers have been blocking State Highway 1 near Whakapara and State Highway 12 at Waipoua, screening drivers.
11.Most banking services are still available throughout the lockdown. ATMs will work, regular payments will still go through and all online and phone banking is available.
12.Leaders in early childhood education are warning that some centres will struggle to survive the lockdown. The Government is continuing to pay subsidies and individual services are deciding whether they will keep charging fees to families.
