Checkpoint for Thursday 7 October 2021

5:08 PM.The tentacles of Covid Delta have forced more Waikato towns into lockdown tonight, with the level 3 boundary moving further south.

There were 29 new cases today, five of those in Waikato. All the new… Read more Audio

5:13 PM.On Wednesday Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins told Checkpoint if there is additional risk seen outside existing level 3 boundaries in the next 24 hours then level 3 restrictions would be applied wider… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.As Delta continues to spread, the drive to fully vaccinate New Zealanders has also accelerated with people now being urged to get their jabs three weeks apart.

Late on Thursday afternoon the Ministry… Read more Video, Audio

5:27 PM.Patients who unable to see physiotherapists because of strict alert level rules are being left in pain and without proper rehabilitation, according to a group of physios who are desperate to see… Read more Video, Audio

5:40 PM.The Covid-19 Response Minister has denounced antivax GPs but says it's up to the Medical Council to deal with them.

Chris Hipkins' statements come after RNZ revealed two Northland GP clinics do not… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.The government is allowing 165,000 overseas workers to gain residence through a fast-tracked one-off visa - but that has left many people cursing their bad luck.

Some were not on the right visa on… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Concern is growing that prolonged lockdowns are causing an increase in online gambling within Pacific communities.

Problem gambling support service Mapu Maia is reporting more people are gambling… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.Basketball's popularity continues to rise in New Zealand following the introduction of 3x3 to the Olympics this year.

Now the focus has turned to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where New… Read more Video, Audio

6:09 PM.The Ministry of Health has released a spreadsheet showing a breakdown of vaccinated people in every suburb of the country in a bid to get more people to get their first and second jabs.

A colour… Read more Audio

6:14 PM.Pacific sport stars are lending their hands to mass vaccination events in Auckland to get more youth and young adults vaccinated.

The 'Rally Your Village' initiative has wrapped up at Auckland's… Read more Audio

6:18 PM.The government has announced a rapid antigen testing pilot for Covid-19 among private companies, but can offer little detail on how it will work.

It follows a request from 25 of some of the country's… Read more Audio