Lisa Owen

One of today's 39 new Covid-19 cases has been confirmed in the King Country coastal town of Kāwhia.

The township lies south of Raglan and is not included in the level 3 lockdown area.

Just over 65… Video, Audio

The gap between Pfizer Covid-19 vaccinations has been shortened from six weeks back to three to help pump up the number of fully vaccinated people.

Director of the Malaghan institute and Director of… Video, Audio

News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins told Checkpoint if there is additional risk seen outside existing level 3 boundaries in the next 24 hours - like Kāwhia and Cambridge where two new cases have appeared… Video, Audio

New Zealanders will need a vaccine certificate to get into big music festivals this summer.

Hamish Pinkham is the founder and director of Rhythm and Vines. He talks to Lisa Owen. Video, Audio

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today the South Island will remain in alert level two but there has been some reprieve, with a slight easing of restrictions for hospitality… Audio

The government has made it clear without more vaccinations lockdowns are here to stay.

Over the weekend Covid-19 cases popped up in Waikato as Delta jumped the Auckland boundary.

Mainfreight… Video, Audio

The government is pivoting its Covid-19 strategy - laying out a three-step plan for easing Auckland's lockdown restrictions.

Meanwhile National has criticised the announcement, with leader Judith… Audio

The All Blacks secured two spots in the latest MIQ lottery, but wanted more.

Locks Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu will return to New Zealand from Australia for family reasons.

The rest of the… Audio

A group of health experts are suggesting an Auckland wide freeze on prosecuting people for personal drug use while the city's under strict Covid-19 restrictions.

A think-piece by epidemiologists… Video, Audio

A leading epidemiologist says while he has breathed a sigh of relief level 3 is still in place, he thinks the government has gone too far with the stepped transition, and it is too risky.

Professor… Video, Audio

Aucklanders have been given a peek at what the road back to level two looks like.

But it is a long road and the government is warning it may need to pull the handbrake on at any moment.

Covid-19… Video, Audio

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has apologised to a managed isolation guest over its handling of an early release request.

Craig Robinson arrived from Queensland in August 2020… Audio

It's the UN's International Day of Older Persons and it turns out New Zealand tops the list when it comes to the highest number of senior hosts on Airbnb.

More than 27 percent of hosts in the country… Audio

A farmer who contracted Covid-19 last year is encouraging people to get vaccinated, no matter where they live in the country.

This comes as rural health experts call for data on how the rollout in… Audio

Two big announcements from Australia today - the first being a shock resignation of New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian - after 5 years in the position.

It comes as the state's corruption… Audio

'On the precipice of a future... or significant failure.' That's how the Whānau Ora Minister described the current state of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout today.

Peeni Henare met with iwi health… Audio

The latest vaccination rates show Māori in Auckland will not come anywhere near the 90 percent first dose challenge laid down by the Prime Minister in time for next week alert level review.

And… Video, Audio

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist David Nyika is saddened but not surprised a bout manipulation system existed in boxing at the 2016 Rio Games.

An independent investigation, commissioned by amateur… Audio

Meanwhile, wedding planners around the country are also being hit hard just as the season begins, due to Auckland still being in lockdown and alert level 2 hampering gathering numbers.

Hawke's Bay is… Audio