Tourism Minister Stuart Nash is mulling over the possibility of charging Australians a visitor levy to help fund assistance to the struggling tourism industry.

The Covid-19 pandemic has put the industry in a unique position, allowing it to take a hard look at its operations and fix long-standing issues.

Nash doesn't see mass-scale international tourism being revived before 2022.

Nash is also floating the idea of making it easier to hibernate a company and then providing support when it's ready to start up again. The minister's ideas are yet to be approved by Cabinet, but Nash is hopeful he'll make an announcement about further support before the May Budget.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor believes the slump in international tourism has been a valuable lesson for the tourism industry.

"The tourism industry learnt not to be so cocky, that's not to go around saying how great they are and how big they are, ‘cos it can change,” says O'Connor.

New Zealand's borders are still tightly sealed, but chatter in support of the trans-Tasman bubble is getting louder. There are whispers a bubble could inflate as early as next month, an idea that is exciting businesses across the country.

"The prospect of a travel bubble is like waiting for Christmas," says Wellington Cable Car chief executive Cesar Piotto.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash speaks to media after his speech at the Otago University Tourism Policy School Conference in Queenstown on Friday. Asked if he knew how many jobs had been lost from tourism and how many tourism businesses had closed, he said he did not. Photo: Kavinda Herath/Stuff.

On the vaccine front, the Pacific nursing section of the nurses' union is calling on the Government to roll out a special vaccination programme for Pasifika. Chairperson of the Pacific nursing section Eseta Finau says a special programme for Pasifika must be culturally appropriate and delivered by "ethnic-specific Pasifika health workers".

Meanwhile, children's entertainers The Wiggles reportedly received death threats for being given spots in managed isolation to kickstart their national tour.

Global toll

The global number of cases has reached 122 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Global deaths have now surpassed 2.69m.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - 29.6m infections, and 539,966 deaths.

Brazil and India have had the second and third most cases, with 11.7m and 11.5m infections, respectively.

What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.