Tony Blakely

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

New Zealand's inquiry into how we handled the pandemic has already spoken to hundreds of people of all persuasions, but the work is definitely taking the hush-hush approach. Audio

An inquiry into New Zealand's response to Covid-19 is casting the net wide for feedback from anyone on the frontline of the pandemic.

The Royal Commission is about to travel the country to meet… Audio

The head of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic response says the review needs to put New Zealand in better position to respond next time a pandemic hits.

Professor Tony Blakely… Audio

The government's goal for Aotearoa to be smokefree by 2025 negotiated its first hurdle in Parliament last night.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill - which passed its… Audio

It seems New Zealanders are better at masking up compared with our Australian counterparts.

University of Melbourne Epidemiology Professor Tony Blakely has been visiting New Zealand, and says mask… 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

An Australian expert says New Zealand can't avoid an Omicron outbreak, and there's no need to panic about it.

A music event in Hamilton last weekend - SoundSplash - is under the spotlight as a… Audio

A leading Australia-based epidemiologist says New Zealand's plan to slow the spread of Omicron is sensible and should help to reduce the peak of the outbreak.

The country is under the red traffic… Audio

More than 65, 000 new Covid cases were recorded in Australia yesterday - more than half of those in New South Wales - as the Omicron variant continues to steamroll across the country.

But leading… Audio

New South Wales' daily Covid-19 count is breaking records.

The state reported more than 2500 cases yesterday.

Health officials believe the majority of the cases are Omicron.

Melbourne University… Audio

New Zealanders overseas now know when they can come home without going through the stress of the MIQ lottery system.

On Wednesday the Government announced fully vaccinated New Zealanders can travel… Audio

An Australian epidemiologist says the best time to move Auckland out of lockdown could be right now - based on how New South Wales and Victoria have negotiated the lifting of restrictions.

The… Audio

Professor Tony Blakely joins Jesse from Melbourne to talk about the "new playbook" for Aotearoa. Audio

New Zealand needs to vaccinate five-year-olds and up against Covid-19 if there's any chance of returning to situation normal, that's according to a leading epidemiologist.

Professor Tony Blakely from… Video, Audio

Fully vaccinated Australians living in New South Wales can expect to enjoy renewed freedoms to visit hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and live music venues from as soon as next month.

New South Wales… Audio

Scientists have a tough message for New Zealanders struggling to come home: it is far too risky to throw open the gates just yet.

The Grounded Kiwis group has been calling for more rooms in managed… Audio

Victoria has ditched its Covid-19 elimination strategy as the way out of lockdown, and is instead casting its eye on vaccinations.

The majority of the state's restrictions will stay in place until 70… Audio

Parts of New South Wales and Victoria have been in lockdown for weeks, yet continue to grapple with rising cases. New South Wales set a new record yesterday - with more than 1,000 daily cases - but… Audio