Covid 19
Covid-19: Grounded Kiwis on border reopening plans
New Zealanders desperate to return home who feel they've been locked out of the country should have some certainty soon.
Cabinet ministers are expected to discuss their plan for re-opening the… Audio
Covid-19: City Missioner 'deeply worried' about Omicron
There will be no repeat of the massive push to get all homeless people off the streets before the coming Omicron outbreak takes hold.
During the first nationwide lockdown in 2020, Government agencies… Audio
Covid-19: Chris Bishop on border reopening plans
An announcement on when the country's borders will reopen is imminent, with Cabinet ministers expected to meet today to finalise the plan.
A staged timeline was outlined last year, which would've… Audio
Omicron spread a 'huge worry' for Grey Power members
Families across Aotearoa are making contingency plans for loved ones in aged care after an Auckland rest home's suspected close call with the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Covid-19: Borders should open around Omicron peak - Tourism Industry Aotearoa
Tourism Industry Aotearoa wants the borders to be reopened soon after the country hits a peak in Omicron cases.
Cabinet ministers are expected to nut out the country's border re-opening plan when… Audio
Former Police Assistant Commissioner stuck in Switzerland
The MIQ system is coming under increasing criticism from stranded New Zealanders struggling to return home using the lottery system or on emergency grounds.
One of those wanting to come back to… Audio
Willis: MIQ should be made available to all pregnant NZers
Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis has been making headlines this week after she was denied a spot in MIQ despite having to rely on the word of the Taliban for her safety. That's one of… Audio
Extended Covid-19 restrictions taking toll on public sentiment - psychologist
We are just two months shy of the two-year anniversary of New Zealand's first nationwide lockdown, but for some, the "team of five million" sentiment feels like years ago.
Growing calls to prioritise expectant mums in MIQ
A New Zealander in Australia was forced to care for her premature baby in hospital alone after her attempts at securing an emergency MIQ room were rejected.
Iwi seeks storage for Omicron food and supplies
An iwi is searching for a storage area for food and basic supplies as it prepares to support the Whanganui community through the widely expected Omicron outbreak.
Omicron: A 10-point list to help whānau prepare
Māori communities at a dangerously high risk of Omicron spread need more support to prepare for isolation, infection and illness, researcher Rāwiri Taonui warns.
Pregnant NZ journalist Charlotte Bellis asked to reapply for MIQ under different category
Bellis, who is stuck in Afghanistan, says her MIQ application has been met with "technicalities and confusion" and she has been asked to apply under a different category. Audio
More Covid-19 deaths in Australia as cases, hospitalisations keep climbing
NSW has recorded 27 new Covid-19 deaths and Victoria eight, while thousands of new cases keep being recorded daily.
Australian Correspondent Brad Foster
Sydney based correspondent Brad Foster talks to Jesse about the COVID case numbers across the Tasman, what it's like going out in the midst of those cases. It was also a big weekend of sport over the… Audio
Auckland school expects return to remote learning due to staff absences
Albany Senior High School principal Claire Amos says teaching face to face would not be sustainable if at least 10 percent of staff are working from home and isolating. Audio
Jacinda Ardern tests negative for Covid-19
The prime minister was deemed a close contact of a positive case on a flight from Kerikeri to Auckland on 22 January.
Midwives back calls for pregnant NZers to get MIQ spots
There are growing calls to prioritise MIQ spots and home isolation for pregnant New Zealanders wanting to come home.
It comes as the lawyer for pregnant journalist Charlotte Bellis plans to take her… Audio
Covid-19: cases predicted to hit 600-1000 per day next week
A Covid-19 modeller thinks New Zealand could hit 1000 cases each day by the middle of next week, largely driven by the Omicron variant.
Auckland University computational biologist David Welch told… Audio
Vaccine inequity in the Pacific: 'We need to support our neighbours'
Concern is growing around low Covid-19 vaccine rates in the Pacific, with more support needed from developed countries.
Covid-19: Schools struggle to fill jobs left by unvaccinated
Some principals are approaching the start of the school year with some trepidation after struggling to find teachers to fill jobs left by those unvaccinated last year.
Most schools start back this… Audio
