The Week in Detail: In Nelson, Christchurch and Franz Josef

Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories.

This week, we looked at the lockdown protests taking place in China, Franz Josef's struggle to replenish its tourism workforce, one of the last clothing factories in New Zealand, a landmark employment case arguing professional athletes should be considered employees, and how Nelson is recovering after the devastating August floods.

Whakarongo mai to any episodes you might have missed.

China's Covid protests: What happens next?

While much of the world has moved into a kind of post-Covid state, managing and tolerating the virus's spread through society, the world's most populous country has gone its own way: sticking to a zero-Covid strategy and using strict lockdowns and mass testing to keep the virus under control.

For a long time, this worked well. But the emergence of the Omicron variant changed the game. Outbreaks sprang up with record numbers of infections, and the government dealt with it as it has done: by locking down. 

But after three years, many of the nation's citizens have had enough. Mass protests have begun to spread across major cities. 

Emile Donovan speaks to Shanghai-based journalist Lisa Movius about what's causing the protests and how the Chinese government is responding.

Franz Josef: The tourist town bouncing back, with a new problem

It's been a rough few years for Franz Josef businesses. First, the massive floods in March 2019 that washed away the Waiho bridge on State Highway 6 - a key lifeline for the tourist town. Then, Covid-19.

As business dried up with the borders closed, workers left the West Coast tourist town. Its population of 450 was decimated.

Sharon Brettkelly is on the ground in Franz Josef speaking some of the town's tourism and hospitality operators about their struggle to find staff to match demand.

Cutting the cloth: What it takes to make clothes in New Zealand

The first thing you see from the top of the stairs at the Albion Clothing factory in Christchurch is a line of national flags.

Beyond them, on the factory floor, are rows of sewing machines. There are bolts of fabric lining one wall and racks of finished clothing on the opposite side: police and Defence Force uniforms, as well as apparel for the Cactus Outdoor label.

Sadly, says Cactus co-founder and director Ben Kepes, it's New Zealand's largest manufacturer of clothing and one of the last. 

"Sadly I say, because in years gone past, factories would have had thousands and thousands of staff. This is only 100, but this is what the largest in New Zealand looks like nowadays."

Sharon Brettkelly speaks to Kepes and general manager Mat Junge on the factory floor.

Are our Olympians actually employees?

A union of 60 or so government-funded cyclists and rowers have formed a union known as the Athletes' Co-operative. 

Spearheaded by Olympic legend Mahe Drysdale, the union wants to enter into collective bargaining with national body High Performance Sport New Zealand, arguing for better pay and working conditions, and increased focus on athletes' wellbeing.

Emile Donovan talks to Stuff national correspondent Dana Johannsen about the case and the complex culture in New Zealand's elite sporting world.

Nelson's long, sodden road to recovery

It's four months since torrential rain drenched Nelson, forcing hundreds of people from their homes and bringing down slips across the city.

The main road to Blenheim, State Highway 6, is still closed and dozens of properties remain uninhabitable. 

Sharon Brettkelly takes a tour of the flood-affected areas of Nelson with RNZ reporter Samantha Gee.

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