A pine tree plan, a bike share stoush and all the latest on coronavirus

If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. Ministry of Health director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield The Government will [ban indoor gatherings]( of more than 100 people as it steps up its fight against [coronavirus](. The news came as the number of confirmed cases in New Zealand [jumped to 28]( on Thursday. The new advice for gatherings does not apply to schools, workplaces, supermarkets or public transport. One of the new cases has been hospitalised and the remaining seven are recovering in [self-isolation]( Ministry of Health director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said. Two of the new cases are in Southland, two in Taranaki, one in Rotorua, two in Auckland and one in Northland. These new cases related to [overseas travel]( with people returning from Egypt, France, the United States and England. Addressing [rumours of a full shutdown of the country]( Bloomfield said this was not something he had heard being discussed. Recent modelling showed that, even when working to "flatten the curve" of transmission, the health system would be overwhelmed with coronavirus cases. "We're preparing to take all the measures we need to make sure we don't get wider community spread." Anzac Day events have been cancelled A number of events in Auckland have been cancelled following a Ministry of Health announcement about scrapping large gatherings to stop the potential spread of [Covid-19](. On Thursday, the New Zealand Returned and Services Association announced [Anzac Day services and the Red Poppy appeal]( will be cancelled this year. [Lenny Kravitz's gig]( at Spark Arena on March 31 has been postponed with the new dates yet to be announced. [Alanis Morissette has also pulled out]( of her planned gig at Spark Arena on April 21 and the Auckland Writers' Festival, due to take place in May, was cancelled on Monday. Auckland Live also said the remainder of [The Book of Mormon]( performances at the Civic Theatre had been cancelled. On Wednesday, the [New Zealand International Comedy Festival]( its proposed 2020 run. It said these were "exceptional circumstances" and that it looked forward to sharing a laugh "when the time is right." Auckland University sent graduands a statement saying the ceremonies in May would be postponed to September. [Head here for a more detailed list]( of cancelled events. People wearing masks As the coronavirus outbreak spreads and more people self-isolate, [Kiwis are banding together]( to help those in need. Sixteen-year-old Aden O'Connor started Facebook group [Self Isolation Support - Kapiti]( - with Sophie Handford, 18, a district councillor and former school climate strike leader. The Year 13 Kāpiti College student spent his study break on Wednesday shopping for food and toilet paper for a women due to arrive back into the country into self-isolation. The response so far to the group had been "brilliant", Aden said. He was now working with Handford to coordinate efforts, with offers ranging from baking to phone conversations with the elderly to an electrician volunteering his services. A similar effort is happening on the North Shore, where the [Devonport Self Isolation Support group]( is full of offers to pick up groceries, local businesses offering delivery and helpful suggestions for people stuck at home. A group has also been set up for backpackers self-isolating in Auckland. "We can bring you food or order to you ... Let's help each other to make this beautiful land clean and safe," the group description reads. Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters](. Eloi Jean Rolland Police have [intensified a search]( for a [French man missing in Auckland]( after cellphone data showed he was in Piha. Eloi Jean Rolland, 18, has not been heard from since March 6, after he failed to return to his address in Birkenhead. Rolland speaks limited English and was last seen on CCTV at the Britomart train station on March 7. He exited a train at New Lynn's Fruitvale Rd railway station at 7.26am. After reviewing his cellphone data, police have established that Rolland was in the Piha Rd area about 9.18am on March 7. A Search and rescue team has been searching the area since Tuesday afternoon, Detective Senior Sergeant Marcia Murray said. She urged anyone living in the area who may have seen Rolland or had dash cam video from around that time to contact police. Rolland is 170cm tall and of thin build and was wearing a blue and white jacket, jeans and dark sneakers when he went missing. Anyone with information should call Waitematā Police on 09 488 9764. Western Springs trees A controversial proposal to [remove 200 pine trees from Western Springs]( has been scuttled. The Waitematā Local Board voted on Tuesday to reject the plan to fell the trees, which was expected to cost $760,000. Auckland Council first earmarked plans to cut the trees down in 2015 when it [determined they were declining rapidly]( and posed a risk to public safety. In January, the council confirmed a resource consent had been granted to remove the trees, following an appeal against the original consent to the Environment Court that was settled in mediation in September. However, the final decision was left to the local board. Society for the Protection of Western Springs Forest spokesman Steve Abel said he was pleased with the result. Local board member Sarah Trotman voted against the proposed removal of the trees. She said she wasn't convinced the new native trees the council wanted to see planted would survive if all of the pines were cut down. Broken Onzo bike A popular bike share company is [facing accusations of using dangerous equipment]( that could put riders at risk. Onzo launched in Auckland in 2017 with 6000 bikes but now only has 594 left and photos of bikes with broken wheels have emerged. While an expert is calling for a review of Onzo’s operating licence, the company claims riders are to blame. Cycling Action Network director Patrick Morgan said Onzo’s bikes are of a low quality and not maintained to an acceptable standard. Stuff has seen multiple photos of Onzo bikes with broken wheels. But an Onzo spokesperson said if customers took care of the bikes, the issue wouldn't exist. The bikes have been abused in the past, with reports of them being [found in trees]( and used as a [fireworks launcher](. Auckland Council’s Mervyn Chetty said she has received complaints regarding safety and brought this up with Onzo. It has since commissioned an independent report to look at safety, she said. You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Auckland news updates from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? 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