Lisa Owen

There are a lot of questions from New Zealanders as the government plans for the country to go into level four Covid-19 alert - full lockdown. Checkpoint's Nita Blake-Persen has been looking at the… Video, Audio

The government says its decision to shut down the country for at least the next four weeks was 'monumental' - but one that was absolutely essential.

From tomorrow all bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms… Video, Audio

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said lifting the alert level from two to four means every New Zealand business will be impacted in some way.

He said the $150,000 cap on the wage subsidy scheme would… Video, Audio

The Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will go into total lockdown by Wednesday afternoon to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Jacinda Ardern said without upgrading to Alert Level 4 quickly, tens… Audio

Countdown is begging people to resume normal shopping behaviour. Panic buying has meant trade has ballooned to volumes equal to Christmas shopping everyday for three weeks.

In a single day last week… Audio

As the country braces for weeks of severely reduced social contact, community spirit is still shining through.

People are leaving the government's community cards in neighbourhood letter boxes… Audio

New Zealanders are snapping up bread-makers and kitchen utensils as people prepare to stay at home amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Despite the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asking people to shop… Audio

New Zealand's Covid-19 lockdown announcement caused tears and panic for university students who are worried they will be stranded far from home.

Thousands of students must find flights or ferry… Audio

Doctors have been on the phone to thousands of patients since this morning in a radical move away from face-to-face consultations.

One Auckland medical centre has done away with its waiting room… Audio

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

"At this point there is cause for alarm and that's why such drastic measures have been taken so early," the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor Juliet Gerrard says.

She speaks to Lisa Owen about… Audio

Some of those most impacted by the New Zealand lockdown will be the elderly.

Simon Wallace is the chief executive of the New Zealand Aged Care Association. He talks to Lisa Owen. Audio

Supermarkets are among the essential services that will continue to operate during the level four lockdown and the government is urging people not to panic buy over the coming days.

They say there is… Video, Audio

The country has two days to prepare for a month-long lockdown, with nationwide restrictions due to officially begin on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister announced the extraordinary move on Monday… Audio

Why did Cabinet make the decision to go to Covid-19 alert level three on Monday, and alert level four national lockdown on Wednesday?

RNZ political editor Jane Patterson joins Lisa Owen to discuss… Video, Audio

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said lifting the alert level from two to four means every New Zealand business will be impacted in some way.

He said the $150,000 cap on the wage subsidy scheme would… Video, Audio

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday was the day to ramp up the nation's response to Covid-19 to stop its spread.

She said whilst New Zealand was someway behind other countries in terms of the… Video, Audio

The Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will go into total lockdown, by Wednesday afternoon to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Government and police leaders detail how the lockdown will work… Video, Audio

A woman in Seattle who has recovered from Covid-19 is warning people not to panic but to take the virus and precautions seriously. Video, Audio

New Zealand has moved to a four stage alert system in the battle against Covid-19. The level on March 21 is level two.

Lisa Owen takes listeners' questions to microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles. Video, Audio