Covid 19
What you need to know: Key changes for scanning, vaccine passes and mandates
Explainer - The country's public health restrictions are being adjusted with scanning, vaccine passes and mandates on the way out.
Covid-19: Prof Michael Baker with analysis on the changes
The future of Covid-19 management begins this weekend.
The traffic light system remains, but some gathering limits will be raised at the RED setting - including letting hospitality venues serve up to… Audio
Covid-19: changes to traffic lights, vax passes and mandates
The future of Covid management has just been revealed: the traffic light system will stay, with some changes, but vaccine passes and some mandates will soon be dropped.
Māni Dunlop recaps Prime… Audio
Modeller makes case for longer isolation period, stricter vaccine pass
Isolation may need to return to 10 days and vaccine passes may need to be expanded to include the booster shot, a modeller says. Audio
Covid-19: Samoa up to 262 active cases
Samoa is in lockdown for at least another two weeks as authorities attempt to bring a runaway Omicron virus to heel.
The island nation had 262 Covid-19 cases as of yesterday, after becoming one of… Audio
Covid-19: Expert on possible second booster shot
As Omicron rages in New Zealand, attention is turning to a possible fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose.
The Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, has asked for advice on how helpful an additional… Audio
Covid-19 vaccination lessons applied in childhood immunisation programme
Health authorities are hoping to apply lessons learned during the Covid-19 vaccination rollout to boost the country's faltering childhood immunisation programme.
Covid-19: Health professional on reduced virus rules
The Prime Minister will announce this afternoon the future of vaccine mandates.
This comes as New Zealand borders are set to reopen in less than a month.
Some health professionals worry that… Audio
Covid 19: Auckland's peak ending, but too early to celebrate further south
Covid-19 deaths and hospitalisations remain low in Te Wai Pounamu as the Omicron wave washes through the south.
Experts say it's still too early to celebrate with cases on the rise.
Timothy Brown… Audio
Covid-19: Orchardists say virus running rampant
Some orchardists say Covid-19 is running rampant through their harvest fields.
It's peak apple time across the country, but Omicron's not showing any signs of slowing down in the busy harvest regions… Audio
Covid-19: Omicron wave moves down the country
The Omicron outbreak's being described as a Mexican wave surging out from Auckland and into the rest of the country.
Cases are on the rise south of the Bombays, and there's a reminder the outbreak is… Audio
Covid-19: Expert warns to stay cautious, even if restrictions removed
The future of the country's Covid-19 restrictions will be revealed by the Prime Minister today.
This comes as latest figures indicate the current Covid-19 outbreak is past its peak in Auckland and is… Audio
Auckland, rest of New Zealand warned Omicron cases could still rise
The Omicron outbreak is like a Mexican wave moving away from Auckland through the rest of the country, a leading rural GP says.
Experts urge govt to 'keep ahead' of Covid-19 with controls as decision looms
A group of public health experts are calling on the government to pump the brakes on loosening Covid-19 restrictions. Audio
Deltacron: Should we be worried about the new variant?
The words 'Delta' and 'Omicron' are as common as bread and butter these days, but what about their lesser known offspring Deltacron?
It's a combination of the two viruses that has been detected in… Video, Audio
Michael Baker, other experts, urge govt to keep Covid controls
A group of public health experts is calling on the government to slow down on loosening Covid restrictions.
Te Pirimia Jacinda Ardern is due to make an announcement on Wednesday about vaccine passes… Video, Audio
Health Ministry considering fourth Covid shot for some NZers
Some people may soon be asked to roll up their sleeve for a fourth Covid vaccine.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says he's taking expert advice and any decision would be up to the… Audio
More Covid-19 cases in Whanganui Hospital, 40 staff absent
The number of people with Covid-19 in Whanganui Hospital is climbing as the hospital also deals with a growing number of cases among staff.
Nicola Willis: National calls for easing of Covid restrictions
The National Party is calling for most Covid restrictions to be ditched, including mandates and vaccine passes National also wants to see isolation periods reduced from seven to five days. It comes as… Audio
Christchurch leaders chasing anti-mandate protesters for costs
Time to pay up - Christchurch City Council is chasing anti-mandate, anti-government protestors for $50,000 for costs incurred during rallies in the city.
In a series of invoices the council has… Video, Audio
