Midday Report for Friday 14 August 2020

12:49 PM.ESR scientists are about to start testing sewage in the North and South Islands for traces of Covid-19.

They've been honing their skills and calibrating equipment at the Jet Park quarantine hotel. 

… Read more Audio

12:48 PM.Anxiety levels are rising in South Auckland, as the city prepares for the possibility of an extended period at Alert Level 3.

A food bank at Ngā Whare Waatea Marae in Mangere has received triple the… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.There are two new confirmed cases at cool store company Americold - one is a contractor who might have worked at more than one location.

That brings the total number of Americold staff with Covid-19… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.Federated Farmers estimates there are about 500 farmers in the Tāmaki Makaurau region affected by the current level three lockdown measures.

Maja Burry has the rural news. Read more Audio

12:28 PM.There's potential Super Rugby 2021 will be another domestic competition.

Clay Wilson has sport. Read more Audio

12:20 PM.Manufacturing rebounds, but that might be short-lived. Read more Audio

12:16 PM.A border worker has raised serious concerns about the lack of health checks and safety protocols at the border.

Public health experts are outraged, saying the testing of border staff hasn't been… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.Cabinet Ministers are meeting this afternoon to decide the future of the country's alert level response to covid-19.

The country will find out at 5.30pm whether the level three lockdown in Auckland –… Read more Audio

12:12 PM.Covid-19 has spread outside of Auckland, with confirmed positive cases in the South Waikato town of Tokoroa.

RNZ's Sarah Robson spoke to Te Aniwa Hurihananui with the latest. Read more Audio

12:00 PM.The South Waikato town of Tokoroa has at least one case of covid-19. In just a few hours, Cabinet Ministers will meet to decide the country's covid-19 alert levels.

Nicola Wright has the news. Read more Audio