Covid 19
Schools asked to help with vaccinations for under-12s
Primary schools could be welcoming children back to class with a Covid vaccination next year.
Principals say they have been asked to consider being part of the drive to immunise children between the… Audio
Hospitality, tourism apprehensive as Omicron looms
Genomic testing is underway to determine whether the Omicron variant has spread amongst other passengers onboard a flight from Dubai to Auckland.
At least two other passengers onboard the flight… Audio
Doctor who quit over vaccine mandate continues to challenge Covid-19 guidance
A controversial Mid Canterbury doctor who quit her job over the vaccination mandate has challenged the guidance of health officials in a presentation to Invercargill City Councillors.
New Plymouth kindergarten identified as Covid-19 exposure event
A kindergarten has been identified as a Covid-19 exposure location involving an as yet unlinked case in New Plymouth.
Health experts call on government to roll out children's vaccine ASAP and prioritise tamariki Māori
A group of health experts are arguing for a vaccination programme for all New Zealand children to be rolled out as soon as possible - and that it should uphold the Crown's obligations for Māori under…
Māori urged to ‘take action and work together’ to combat increased Covid risk
A Covid-19 Māori health analyst is urging Māori to "take action and work together" to reduce the impact of expected Delta outbreaks as the country begins travelling.
Rural hospitals 'largely left out' of $100m pandemic funding
Doctors and hospitals in rural areas say they have been ignored by a government plan to upgrade many hospitals in preparation for Covid-19. Audio
Shearers' initiative to get vaccinated
Putting down the shears and rolling up their sleeves was the goal for some shearing gangs on the east coast as they vyed for the top prize for most vaccinated gang.
The initiative run by Turanga… Audio
Māori paediatricians want to protect vulnerable whanau
Māori paediatricians want to ensure the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines for 5-to-11 year olds helps protect vulnerable whānau.
Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be given… Audio
Angry confrontations about masks at Welly airport
The police were asked to intervene after an angry confrontation between masked and unmasked passengers at Wellington Airport this morning.
All those flying domestically are required wear a face… Audio
Omicron in MIQ - what do we know about the variant
The Ministry of Health has confirmed at least one case of the Omicron variant in a managed isolation facility in Christchurch.
The variant is spreading quickly overseas and scientists are racing to… Audio
Māori and Pacific over-represented in NRHCC hospitalisations in Delta outbreak
The longest Covid-19 hospitalisation in Auckland and Northland during the first three months of the current outbreak was 61 days, and an overwhelming majority of patients were Māori or Pacific.
Call for school Covid-19 vaccination day for children
A leading Māori health provider is calling for a Covid-19 vaccination day in schools after Medsafe granted provisional approval for it to be given to children aged 5 to 11. Audio
Omicron making its way into community 'by no means inevitable' - Bloomfield
While it's not inevitable Omicron will leak into the community, Dr Ashley Bloomfield says he will be speaking to ministers today about speeding up the vaccine booster rollout. Audio
Omicron's here: should boosters be brought forward urgently?
A Covid modeller says the virus booster programme should be rolled out as soon as possible saying without it, we could see tens of thousands of cases a day of the new omicron variant. Cabinet… Audio
Covid-19: Tairawhiti DHB CEO on sixth positive wastewater result
A sixth positive detection of Covid-19 in Tairāwhiti's wastewater has got health officials in a bind.
The latest sample taken on Tuesday adds to a string of positive results recorded over the past… Audio
Covid-19: Expert on jabs for kids approval
Parents and caregivers will soon get the opportunity to have their five-to-11-year-olds vaccinated against Covid-19.
Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the vaccine for children in this age… Audio
Covid-19: One case spent more than two months in hospital
A person with Covid-19 spent 61 days in hospital - the longest period for any cases in Auckland and Northland in the current outbreak.
Figures released to RNZ under the Official Information Act also… Audio
Covid-19: Scientist wants MIQ maintained, tighter restrictions
A science expert says wants Aotearoa's MIQ system maintained and endorses a host of tighter restrictions to prevent Omicron entering the Aotearoa community.
The infectious Covid-19 variant has been… Audio
Covid-19: Queen cancels Christmas due to Omicron
The Queen has cancelled her Christmas plans due to the threat of Omicron.
It comes as England chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned everyone to reconsider their Christmas plans, to… Audio
