Covid 19
Chris Hipkins announces changes to border rules
The Government has just announced a further bolstering of the country's border, with passengers on high-risk flights to be kept in separate hotels from other arrivals. The Covid-19 Response Minister… Audio
Govt seeks consistency, cohesion in major health overhaul
Consistency and cohesion is what the government is promising in a massive shake up to the health system.
The 20 DHBs will be gone, and a new body - Health NZ - will be set up, along with a specific… Video, Audio
Is it too soon for the trans-Tasman travel bubble?
Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt says the latest positive case here won't mean a change to trans-Tasman travel rules. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the latest community case of Covid-19 is a… Audio
Airport cleaner is NZ's latest community case
A new positive case of Covid-19 in the community - a person who cleans planes at Auckland Airport that arrive from red-zone countries. The employee - who was reported positive this afternoon - cleans… Audio
Sydney tourism operators thrilled to see NZ visitors again
Sydney tourism operators are over the moon to be welcoming back New Zealanders taking advantage of the quarantine-free travel arrangement.
Our tourism reporter Tess Brunton and videographer Simon… Video, Audio
Plane cleaner at Auckland Airport positive for Covid-19
A cleaner at Auckland Airport has tested positive for Covid-19.
The person tested positive during routine testing yesterday - and was announced this afternoon.
With the latest details, Checkpoint… Video, Audio
Health authorities race to determine if Covid-19 in community
Schools closing in Fiji as health authorities race to determine if there is Covid-19 in the community. Audio
London Calling: the BBC World Service
In her weekly cross to the team at the BBC World Service, tonight Karyn speaks with journalist Audrey Tinline about the number of active Covid-19 cases around the world; President Putin's scheduled… Audio
Melbourne welcomes NZers with... interpretative bubble dance?
One last thing on the bubble before we go today. Airports on both sides of the Tasman have marked quarantine free travel between Australia and New Zealand with songs, dances, drag queens and more.
… Video, Audio
Trans-Tasman travel bubble too late for NZ trout fishing season
Fishing guides who've been left with little to no business post-Covid-19 say the trans-Tasman bubble has come too late to make a difference this season.
There are about 130 guides registered with the… Audio
Reunions continue into evening at Auckland Airport
Flights continue to arrive at Auckland Airport this evening. Checkpoint's Nick Truebridge and Nick Monro spent the day watching tearful reunions.
Video, Audio
Moving pōwhiri welcomes Air NZ flight into Wellington
Emotions ran high at airports across the country today with Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports welcoming their first international passenger flights in almost 400 days.
The trans-Tasman… Video, Audio
NZ-AUS travel bubble may bring $1b boost to economy - Ardern
The Prime Minister has hailed the opening of the new trans-Tasman travel bubble as a world-first milestone.
Speaking at her post-Cabinet press conference, Jacinda Ardern said Tourism New Zealand… Audio
Trans-Tasman travel: International tourists land in Queenstown
For the first time in almost 400 days international tourists landed at Queenstown Airport, to tears, cheers, offers of free bungy jumps and relief that not only were friends and family reunited but… Audio
MIQ ventilation upgrades not confirmed - Brigadier Jim Bliss
Two Auckland isolation hotels are being emptied of returnees pending an investigation into how Covid-19 was transmitted inside the facilities.
Genome sequencing show the virus spread between two… Video, Audio
Trauma of separation clouds reunion prospect for migrant family
A migrant family split by the Covid-19 border closure for more than 400 days say they feel no joy about the prospect of reuniting because the separation has been so traumatic.
The government's… Audio
Trans-Tasman travel again: The latest from Sydney
RNZ tourism reporter Tess Brunton and videographer Simon Rogers were on board one of the first flights from New Zealand to Australia under the new trans-Tasman travel bubble today.
Tess joins Lisa… Video, Audio
Excitement, relief, joy - NZers land at Sydney as trans-Tasman travel begins
Excitement, relief and joy - that's how passengers described the feeling of boarding the first trans Tasman flight out of Auckland to Sydney under the new quarantine free bubble.
While the flight… Video, Audio
Tears, hugs at airports as trans-Tasman travel bubble begins
It was like scenes from Love Actually - emotions have been running high at airports in New Zealand and Australia today as the trans-Tasman travel bubble burst into action.
For the first time in a… Video, Audio
Queenstown waiting for first Australian tourists to touch down
Queenstown is getting ready for the first plane load of Australian tourists to touch down. RNZ's South Island bureau chief, Belinda McCammon has been in the resort town for a few days. Audio