Stories by Sarah Robson

Forget group video calls, a group of older people in the Hutt Valley is staying connected through the Covid-19 lockdown with regular catch-ups on the telephone.

It could cost up to $14 million to get New Zealanders stranded overseas because of Covid-19 home, according to just-released documents.

What'll it be today? Abseiling, vechicle repairs, baking or some DIY? Chester can do it all.

Comfortable beds, large TVs, meals delivered and allocated exercise time. Three people who spent time in managed isolation describe what it is like.

Vulnerable older people will still need help, even after the covid-19 pandemic is over, community organisations say.

More than 6000 more people have ended up on the benefit in the past week, but the growth in numbers is beginning to slow.

Some people are gearing up for a return to work, while others have been salivating at the prospect of their first takeaway in weeks. Aucklanders spell out what level 3 will mean for them.

In the four weeks since it was announced the country was going into lockdown, 33,000 more people have ended up on the benefit.

The Salvation Army is warning of an "emerging underclass" of people who have suddenly found themselves in hardship because of Covid-19.

A Hawke's Bay-based man was the expedition doctor for a cruise, which ended up with more than half of the passengers contracting Covid-19.

After four weeks in lockdown, food banks around the country say there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people needing help to put food on the table.

Most of the requests for exceptions to the country's tough border restrictions are being refused, according to figures from Immigration New Zealand.

A New Zealand woman has made the tough decision to stay in Lima, because her Peruvian husband was barred from entering the country.

A New Zealand woman stranded in Samoa says she is desperate to get home to her husband and eight children.

A New Zealand couple stranded in Israel is desperately hoping commercial flights will resume soon, so they can get home to Rotorua.

A handful of New Zealanders who were stuck in Peru have managed to get out of the country, but they are pleading with the government for more help to get the dozens of others left behind.

The Ministry of Social Development's contact centres are dealing with huge numbers of calls, but it is assuring people benefits will continue to be paid as usual.

Desperate New Zealanders stuck in Peru are pleading with the government for help, after they were bumped off an Australian commercial charter flight that was meant to get them home.

New Zealanders stuck in Peru because of the Covid-19 pandemic are hopeful a commercial charter flight, organised by the Australian government, is their ticket home.

Food banks are bracing themselves for increased demand as the country goes into lockdown - and some say their stocks are already seriously depleted.

Work and Income offices have closed their doors, but the Ministry of Social Development is assuring people they will be able to access the help and support they need.

Are you tossing up whether or not to take the kids to the indoor playground, or head to the gym, as fears grow about the spread of Covid-19?

Universities are warning staff cuts could be on the horizon as they grapple with the financial losses from the coronavirus travel ban.

Over a three-month period last year, the Citizens Advice Bureau said it saw more than 4000 clients who needed help accessing services online.

One in eight children were living in material hardship in the year ended June 2019, around the same as the previous year, newly released figures show.