FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK EYED FOR TOURISM BOOST

PERTH New Zealand is considering introducing a fourday work week to help boost domestic tourism, productivity and employment after the pandemic battered the country’s economy.

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, flagged the idea of using the shorter week and additional public holidays as part of a creative approach to resuscitating the economy.

New Zealand’s strict seven-week lockdown has been praised around the world for stopping the spread of COVID-19, with the nation of five million now having 35 active cases and just one coronavirus patient in hospital. New Zealand has had 1,153 cases and 21 deaths.

Borders remain closed but New Zealanders are now free to travel within the country.