Craig Mcculloch
Covid-19: Growing outbreak strains quarantine facilities
The country's Covid-19 quarantine hotels are under increasing pressure with more than 200 people infected with the virus and predictions that could balloon to one thousand.
The Government is setting… Audio
Covid-19: Opposition outraged over Parliament suspension
New Zealand's Delta outbreak has disrupted Parliament's sitting - with the Speaker pushing pause at the Prime Minister's request.
The suspension has prompted outrage from Opposition parties who say… Audio
Genomic link found for Covid-19 Delta outbreak
Could it be the missing piece of the puzzle? A potential link to the Covid-19 outbreak that's thrown the country into hard lockdown.
Today news that the cases could be linked to a recent returnee… Audio
Covid-19 Delta outbreak day 2: What you need to know
New Zealand's Covid-19 outbreak has grown to 10 and the Prime Minister has warned there will be more.
Jacinda Ardern also announced that, from midnight tonight, it will be mandatory to wear a mask… Audio
Covid-19 community case in Auckland: Govt making plan
Covid-19 is back in the community. What happens now?
Health officials have confirmed a positive case of the virus early this afternoon.
It's in Auckland but so far there is no link between the… Video, Audio
Covid Minister dismisses calls for stand-alone agency
Calls for a stand-alone agency to manage the country's new approach to Covid-19 have been dismissed by the Minister, Chris Hipkins. Yesterday the Government set out a plan to ease open the borders… Audio
Covid-19: Govt unveils plan for future of NZ's border
A road map for reopening, but it's a long road, with plenty of potential pot holes along the way.
The government has unveiled a plan it says will see see the border reopen to some countries and under… Audio
Government reveals border re-opening plan
The Covid-19 vaccination rollout is being brought forward, and home isolation is on the cards, as part of new settings needed for a limited reopening of the borders early next year. The Prime Minister… Audio
Relocation of Churchill painting at Parliament proves contentious
Interior decorating has proved contentious at Parliament today with the National Party decrying the relocation of a Winston Churchill portrait as deeply offensive.
The Greens say the Opposition… Audio
Energy Minister demands answers after power outages
The Energy Minister Megan Woods wants answers from the national grid operator Transpower after thousands of households were left without power on the coldest night of the year. Transpower has… Audio
Antivaxers' misinformation 'reprehensible' - Covid-19 Minister
The government is denouncing those spreading lies about the Covid-19 vaccine campaign, calling their behaviour reprehensible.
It warns misinformation is already hobbling efforts to inoculate the… Audio
National alone on crusade questioning use of 'Aotearoa'
National is demanding the country's name be put to a public vote - with one MP saying until that happens, the government should not use the word Aotearoa.
The demand has been roundly ridiculed by… Audio
Experts warn ministers students falling through cracks
Education officials have warned their ministers that students are falling through the cracks because the curriculum does not clearly signal when they need more support.
The opposition National Party… Audio
Cabinet holds urgent meeting over trans-Tasman bubble
Cabinet ministers are meeting right now to decide the fate of the trans-Tasman bubble.
The meeting has been called just hours after New South Wales recorded 124 new Covid-19 cases - a record high in… Video, Audio
NZ officials meet with Chinese Embassy as tensions escalate
New Zealand officials have met with the Chinese Embassy amid escalating tensions between the two countries.
The government this week issued a charged statement, in line with the United States and… Audio
China accuses NZ of 'groundless' claims over hacking
The Chinese Embassy has accused New Zealand of spreading groundless and irresponsible claims about cyber attacks in what it calls a malicious smear.
The reproach comes after the government joined an… Audio
Details on future of NZ's borders to come - Deputy Prime Minister
The government is making no apologies for failing, so far, to lay out a clear road-map for when and how the borders might reopen as people are vaccinated for Covid-19.
But watch this space - the… Audio
Move to add folic acid to bread welcomed
Folic acid will be added to bread in New Zealand to reduce serious conditions like spina bifida in babies.
The policy makes it compulsory for the B vitamin to be added to all non-organic bread-making… Audio
Janssen vaccine has been approved in NZ
New Zealand's vaccine programme has another string in its bow - with a second Covid-19 vaccine getting sign-off. The regulator Medsafe has approved the single-dose Yanssen vaccine for those aged 18… Audio
Government officials labelled purpose-built MIQ 'unfeasible'
Government officials have dismissed the prospect of a purpose-built quarantine facility to help keep out Covid, calling it "unfeasible."
That's despite the Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins… Audio