Amid significant backlash for backing a $11.7 million grant to an exclusive private school, Greens co-leader James Shaw is urging voters to not ditch the party over "one mistake".

Shaw advocated for an expansion of the Green School in Taranaki, which charges up to $43,000 a year in fees for international students, to get money from the $3 billion infrastructure pot in the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

Shaw said he advocated for the project because it was sustainable infrastructure which promised to help diversify the region's economy from depending on oil and gas.

Meanwhile, the Australian PM has hinted at trans-Tasman flights between Covid-free areas of Australia and New Zealand.

Scott Morrison said almost 4000 Australians were returning home every week, but many more were still trying to do so.

"Further support has been provided to assist those Australians, particularly in hardship overseas ... as part of that approach I spoke to Prime Minister Ardern this morning and what I advised her was that Australia will be looking to apply the same hotspot approach to New Zealand.

"That means when we're in a position to do so, and when the acting chief medical officer has come to a set of arrangements with New Zealand, then we would be able to have New Zealanders come to Australia.

"That doesn't mean Australians can go to New Zealand, that's a matter for Prime Minister Ardern, but if there's no Covid in Christchurch, and there's no Covid in Queensland, then there's no reason both of them can't come to Sydney.

"That will mean, I think, an important boost for our tourist economy, whether it's in New South Wales or anywhere else."

Listen above as Chris Lynch and Jo McCarroll discuss these issues with Francesca Rudkin on The Sunday Panel