Checkpoint for Thursday 26 August 2021

5:07 PM.Aotearoa's Covid-19 Delta cluster has had another jump today - 68 new cases, bringing the total to 277.

263 are in Auckland and 14 are in Wellington. The two new Wellington cases are household… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.An employment lawyer is warning of legal stand offs between companies and employees who refuse to be vaccinated for Covid-19.

Employers cannot legally require their staff to get vaccinated but there… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Air New Zealand has hit some turbulence with a $289 million loss for the year ended June.

It has used $350 million of the government's $1.5 billion loan facility. The airline also recently had a crew… Read more Video, Audio

5:23 PM.Essential workers and a top Covid-19 expert are among a growing group calling for rapid Covid-19 tests to help New Zealand get ahead of Delta.

The highly contagious variant has meant thousands of… Read more Audio

5:29 PM.Families mourning the loss of their loved ones are grappling with tighter restrictions on funerals and tangihanga, which prevent them from being present at any stage of the funeral process.

Among… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6269551653001 Video, Audio

5:39 PM.A pregnant New Zealand woman with a medical condition that could put her and her unborn child at risk is stranded in the United States and uninsured, after being declined an emergency MIQ spot six… Read more Video, Audio

5:47 PM.A treasured birthing centre in the Hutt Valley will be mothballed next month, due to a lack of funding.

Thousands signed a petition calling on the DHB to take over the running of the centre, which… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Legendary paralympian Sophie Pascoe has eased her way into medal contention in Tokyo, after placing second in the 100 metre SB8 breaststroke heat.

Pascoe is chasing her 10th gold medal, as she… Read more Video, Audio

5:56 PM.There's been relief for teenagers and principals with news the government has agreed to delay the start of NCEA and scholarship exams by two weeks.

The Ministry has told schools that due to the… Read more Audio

6:09 PM.A dedicated testing centre for the largest sub-cluster of this outbreak opened today.

More than 100 cases trace back to the Samoan Assembly of God Church in Māngere.

The new testing station ensures… Read more Video, Audio

6:12 PM.Declining an emergency MIQ spot to a New Zealander with a high risk pregnancy stranded in the United States without medical insurance is a human rights breach according to the woman's lawyer.

Frances… Read more Video, Audio

6:19 PM.Three All Blacks are missing the Rugby Championship - so they can be home for the births of their children.

Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga all have babies due in the coming weeks.

The… Read more Audio

6:20 PM.Some Canterbury health staff are being told they can't work from home. Their rationale - there are no Covid-19 cases in the South Island and vaccination is available. And a union says other DHBs are… Read more Audio

6:23 PM.Time is quickly running out for anyone desperate to escape Afghanistan.

MFAT says its ability to help individuals on the ground is very limited and no new requests for visas are being accepted.

… Read more Audio

6:26 PM.In two weeks' time - those fully vaccinated will have more freedom in New South Wales.

The announcement of the easing of restrictions comes despite the state recording its highest ever daily number… Read more Audio