Alert level 2, your bubbles captured on camera and how to spoil mum in lockdown

If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. Auckland skyline The move to [Covid-19 alert level 2]( will see the return of shopping, eating out, weddings, domestic travel, schools, sport, and seeing friends - but under strict rules. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed the rules ahead of Cabinet's decision about whether to move to level 2 or not on Monday, May 11 describing it as a "safer version of normal". Patrons at [cafes, bars, or restaurants will need to be seated and separated]( with no more than 100 guests in each venue. Any that break the rules will be shut down. Shopping will be allowed but physical distancing will need to be maintained. And people will be able to visit friends and family - but not hold large parties. [Domestic travel will be allowed]( but is not encouraged for spurious reasons or for unsafe behaviour. [Schools, tertiary institutes, and early childhood centres will reopen,]( while hairdressers and beauty technicians will be able to open while using personal protective gear. Gyms will reopen with physical distancing in place and council pools and libraries will also open. Elliott Stables Businesses in [Auckland CBD could suffer more than 12,400 job losses]( by March 2021 due to the impact of coronavirus, a new report predicts. The report, by independent economists Strateg.Ease and released by business association Heart of the City, said it could take at least two years for business in the city centre to recover from the effects of [Covid-19](. It also predicted a loss of $3.1 billion of gross domestic product (GDP) - the market value of goods produced in the city. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said businesses in the tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and culture and retail industries were the worst affected. These businesses also gave the Auckland CBD its vitality, she added. It comes as 12 eateries within dining village Elliott Stables said [they had been "crippled"]( by the coronavirus pandemic, with at least one vendor confirmed they would have to shut up shop. Icon Group, which owns Elliott Stables, said it would work with its tenants to ensure the dining destination would return. A bubble in front of their house Auckland photographer Shona Dey has spent her days in lockdown [hearing the stories and capturing photographs of people in her neighbourhood]( she'd never had the chance to get to know before. Unable to do her usual commerical photography, she pondered what it mean to be inside a bubble, and wanted to capture it. To start with, Dey took a photograph of her own bubble, posted it to a local Facebook group and asked others to get in contact if they wanted their own bubble photograph. Dey was surprised by the enthusiam she received and has since photographed 15 different bubbles, which all needed to be within walking distance of her Sandringham home so she didn't break level 4 lockdown rules. Dey has lived in the area for 12 years and said it had been "really interesting" meeting new people she shared a community with. "Throughout the bubbles I did visit there was a feeling of hope and optimism and a gratefulness for being in New Zealand," Dey said. All the photographs can be seen on Dey's [Instagram]( account. Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters](. Taryn Cumming and Kat Buchanan Taryn Cumming and fiancée Kat Buchanan have talked about having children since the beginning of their relationship two years ago. But they never imagined they would [both fall pregnant with their due dates just 12 days apart](. Faced with declining fertility and an "extremely expensive" fertility process, the women decided to take matters into their own hands with the help of social media where they found an "absolutely perfect" sperm donor. Cumming's first self-insemination attempt in February was unsuccessful, so a fortnight later on March 5, Buchanan gave it a go. Two weeks later, Cumming made a second attempt. On March 21, the couple learned Buchanan had fallen pregnant and exactly a week later, Cumming followed suit. The couple intended both would have a child to the same donor eventually, but planned on one carrying to almost full-term before the other became pregnant. Buchanan, now 10 weeks pregnant, and Cumming, nearly nine weeks, are due on November 28 and December 10, respectively. "We're very excited," Cumming said. The Upper Mangatawhiri Dam [Water restrictions]( will be in place in 10 days, but Aucklanders have been assured that despite an [unprecedented drought]( the city will not run dry. The city's water storage has fallen to just 46.3 per cent - 30 per cent lower than normal after a dry spell which began last year and worsened through the driest January to May period on record. Mayor Phil Goff has called the shortage "critical" but not yet a crisis - although that will depend on significant rain despite a three-month forecast of normal-to-drier-than-normal weather. Councillors on Thursday invoked bylaws that will allow its water company to enforce a ban on outdoor water use, on car wash facilities that don't use recycled water, and on watering paddocks and sports fields. More draconian stage 3 measures could be months away in the worst case scenario, hitting businesses more severely, with big commercial water users only being able to operate four days a week. The significant difference to the 1993-94 water crisis is the continuous supply from the Waikato River, which has the ability to provide more than a third of Auckland's water needs. Happy Mother's Day! Spoiling your mum on Mother’s Day might normally mean breakfast in bed, lunch at her favourite restaurant - or at least a hug to go with your handmade card. But with the country under coronavirus alert level 3 on Sunday May 10, [celebrations will look a little different this year](. Luckily, a bunch of Auckland restaurants and businesses have magicked up treats with a lockdown twist. [The Caker]( has whipped up two new flavours for the occasion, and [Miann]( has put together a gift pack including macarons, chocolate and cake. Both can arrange contactless pick-up. If you’d normally take her out for a slap up lunch, this year could be the time to bring the restaurant to you. [Eat Local's]( website lists cafes and restaurants in your area for pickup. Treat mum to a gift card from [SOS Business]( set up in response to the pandemic, where she can shop at 500+ businesses, and [support local business](. Alternatively, round up the family for a Zoom catch-up or get them to chip in their favourite photos and make a virtual photo album. If all else fails, make her a classic "I owe you" note for when you can see her again. You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Auckland news updates from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up to get Auckland News: In case you missed it]( to your inbox [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](