Michael Plank

Traces of Covid-19 infections in wastewater samples are declining nationally, indicating a move out of the country's fifth wave.

Wastewater detection peaked on January the 7th at 8.46mil genome… Audio

Sweeping job cuts across financially strained universities are heaping pressure on the science sector.  Audio

Winter is upon us, and seasonal illnesses are on the rise - prompting warnings from doctors that the worst is yet to come. Flu cases have been steadily increasing over the past month, ahead of the… Audio

The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio

Winter illness season is upon us. Can the health system cope with the inevitable increase in demand that comes with it? Audio

Opposition parties are decrying the Government's decision to continue the seven-day mandatory isolation period for people who have tested positive for Covid-19.

It will remain for another two months… Audio

An epidemiologist says scrapping the 7-day Covid isolation period would lead to more cases and deaths in the short term, but long term - the risks are minimal.

The government is today deciding… Audio

The Government could ditch the traffic light system when its Covid-19 settings come up for review soon.

Covid-19 modeller and University of Canterbury Professor Michael Plank explains the case… Audio

A leading Covid-19 modeller says the latest increase in case numbers across Aotearoa may be the start of a serious wave.

Canterbury University mathematician Michael Plank predicts daily cases could… Audio

A leading Covid-19 modeller is warning a new wave is coming and more people will end up critically ill or dying. 

Canterbury University mathematician Michael Plank says Covid-19 case numbers… Audio

A Covid-19 modeller says hospitals and primary care face a busy winter if cases of Covid-19 and flu both climb in the coming months.

Canterbury University Professor Michael Plank said a second wave… Audio

Panellists Ben Thomas and Livia Esterhazy discuss today's traffic light announcement and changing the voting age to 16. Audio

Covid-19 deaths caused by Omicron have already soared higher than experts anticipated, and will continue to climb.

Less than two weeks weeks ago, modeller Professor Michael Plank anticipated between… Audio

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

Panellists Janet Wilson and Max Harris discuss where we go next with our Covid-19 restrictions, making it compulsory for employers to list salaries on job ads, and what makes a person boring. Audio

Covid-19 restrictions look set to be relaxed in the coming weeks as the Omicron outbreak plateaus and the border begins to reopen.

Cabinet is meeting today to review mandates, vaccine passes and the… Audio