The Government has backed down on rules under alert level 2 only allowing 10 people at funeral and tangi.

Deputy PM Winston Peters called for 'common sense' when it comes to the limit of ten people at a funeral under Level 2. Video / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand has no new cases of Covid-19 and 93% have now recovered, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today.

The racing industry will get a $72.5 million emergency support package, Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Health Minister David Clark have announced that the health sector will get an extra $3.92 billion over the next four years.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian issues stern rebuke to Foreign Minister Winston Peters after he spoke out in support of Taiwan. Video / AP

"I think the focus now turns to saving jobs and getting people back to work," said National Party leader Simon Bridges.

Alert level 2: Retail, malls, cafes, restaurants, cinema and other public spaces can reopen this Thursday. Schools will reopen on May 18 and bars on May 21.

The Government will invest an extra $202 million into family violence services.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to ‘a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering.’ Video / AP

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters fires back at Simon Bridges after he referred to him as ‘my sweetheart Winston’. Audio / The Country. Photo / Mark Mitchell

There are two new Covid-19 cases today, one of which is an Auckland nurse who has tested positive for coronavirus.The nurse is linked to St Margaret's rest home and is being cared for at North Shore Hospital.

Malls, cafes, bars, barbers and schools can open under alert level 2, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Kiwis can expand their bubbles to include friends and family and travel "safely" around the country, Ardern said.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has revealed the Government will be running deficits for an "extended period" of time and its debt levels will reach an all-time high.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff said that the council is implementing the first stage of restrictions on water use to save the city's drought-stricken reserves. Video / Michael Craig

Christopher Luxon holds post-Cabinet press conference

There are two new cases of Covid-19 and one person has died of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. PM Jacinda Ardern said Microsoft's announcement to build a data centre in New Zealand served as a signal to the world that we are open for business.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters spoke on Tuesday about a possible bubble deal with Australia and getting the economy going again. Video / Mark Mitchell

PM Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand can take heart from there being no new coronavirus cases today. But she says it reflects the success of the lockdown rather than actions during level three.

There are no new cases of coronavirus in New Zealand today. It is the first time in almost six weeks that testing has not uncovered a single case across a 24 hour period.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff speaks with Tim McCready about the impact of Covid-19 on 2021. Video / Supplied

Winston Peters speaks to media

PM Jacinda Ardern's communication style has been praised internationally, including by the World Health Organisation. Just how did Ardern manage to persuade New Zealanders into docility?

There are three new Covid-19 cases today and no additional deaths. One of today's three cases is linked to overseas travel and one to a known case. The origin of another is still under investigation.

Question time

There are three new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today. The number of cases has remained in single digits for 12 days. There are no further deaths.

Christopher Luxon holds post-Cabinet press conference

In a speech this afternoon delivered to reporters in the Beehive, Peters said the Government is considering its foreign and trade policy priorities, in light of the global pandemic.

National Party leader Simon Bridges says that lockdown 'has gone on too long' and that 'we don't want to flatten the economy'.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has been front and centre at the daily Covid-19 briefings.