Stories by Rowan Quinn

Hospitals are planning to cancel operations and convert theatres to intensive care units if needed to keep people alive in a Covid-19 outbreak.

The man who led New Zealand's response to the last global pandemic says buying time is critical to how the Covid-19 will impact on New Zealand.

People in rest homes could be in dire circumstances if the coronavirus hits and they don't get enough back up from district health boards, says a retirement village chief executive. Video, Audio

GPs have run out of masks and other protective gear and say that makes them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, while the government holds on to 18 million masks. Audio

Delayed breast cancer diagnoses for 35 women shows South Aucklanders are victims of an almost third-world health system, Cancer Society chief executive Mike Kernaghan says.

Thirty-five South Auckland women had their diagnoses of breast cancer delayed last year as Counties Manukau DHB struggles to see patients on time.

New Zealanders quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship may risk another two weeks stranded in Japan if they don't board an evacuation flight due to leave the country tomorrow. Video

New Zealanders trapped on a cruise ship amid the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak may finally be about to head home, but face being quarantined again when they return.

New Zealanders aged 15-to-29, the age group that helped to fuel last year's measles outbreak, will be targeted in a new government immunisation programme.

Some Ōpōtiki women are worried they will be left waiting in a dark carpark to be let into the birthing unit, as it reopens with limitations.

An intellectually disabled man was subject to repeated sexually aggressive behaviour while on a IHC-run job programme, a report says.

Lollies, chippies and high sugar products should have to come in plain packs like cigarettes, the Northland District Health Board says.

Surgical mesh patients have described losing their jobs, their love lives and their will to live in a report that paints a bleak picture of the fall out from the toxic implants.

Auckland Council's first budget plan since declaring a climate emergency does not indicate any major spending increase on the area, but proposes to cut its own emissions by 20 percent.

An Auckland MRI technician says staff are running between patients as they try to get their work done and slash growing backlogs.

Auckland could be without a major port if recommendations delivered to the government are adopted.

Auckland Council will now have a climate change committee as mayor Phil Goff reorganises the council to reflect his priorities.

Some cyclists are travelling as fast as cars on Auckland's Northwestern cycleway where a walking school bus had to be suspended.

The defeated Auckland mayoral contender has indicated he may put himself forward as a candidate in next year's general election. Video

Women are being turned away from Tauranga and Christchurch hospitals for treatment for "non-urgent" gynaecological conditions, as a clearer picture emerges of nationwide shortfalls in women's health…

Pike River families have laid flowers and taken small rocks as mementoes as they visit the seal to the mine for the first time.

The Pike River families are set to go 170 metres into the mine drift - further than they have previously been able to go since the disaster. Audio

Legendary runner Sir John Walker, who went onto enable a million kids to learn to swim, has made his farewells to the Auckland Council as he battles Parkinson's Disease.

Ihumātao protesters have interrupted the last Auckland Council meeting of this term, singing, chanting and unfurling protest signs.

New Zealand drug users are being targeted by overseas criminals because they are prepared to pay such a high price for their high, police say.