Checkpoint for Monday 21 February 2022

5:07 PM.Poo was pelted at officers during an early morning operation today to contain the protest at Parliament.

The 3.30am operation caught the occupiers off guard with attempts to thwart the plan… Read more Video, Audio

5:11 PM.The Prime Minister is warning people to "brace" for the next six weeks, and the peak of Omicron spread.

Jacinda Ardern says the rules around vaccine mandates will ease in some areas, but only once… Read more Video, Audio

5:20 PM.Rapid antigen tests are being deployed across Auckland as lab crews struggle to keep their heads above water.

There are 2365 new cases in the country today - and demand for testing has reached… Read more Video, Audio

5:24 PM."A society divided". That's the assessment of the leader of the opposition, who's called for vaccine mandates to be scrapped after the Omicron peak has passed.

Christopher Luxon says the government… Read more Video, Audio

5:34 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6298326959001 Video, Audio

5:36 PM.Anti mandate protesters rallied in Christchurch on Saturday. Over the weekend, more than a thousand people demonstrated through the centre of the city, with a similar message - wanting to see an end… Read more Video, Audio

5:41 PM.Legally how long can the government keep the "no jab no job" orders in place? At the moment the health order covers a significant chunk of workers including police, teachers, defence, MIQ and health… Read more Video, Audio

5:47 PM.The French President Emmanuel Macron says he has secured an agreement in principle for a summit meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin.

But the White House says it will only take place provided… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.It's the expensive train trial that's totally off the rails according to a new report. Less than a year since its launch, the Hamilton to Auckland train Te Huia is facing a damning review from the… Read more Video, Audio

6:07 PM.The number of inmates infected with Covid has doubled in just a few days inside the country's only privately run prison.

There's now 109 inmates who are positive at the Auckland South Corrections… Read more Video, Audio

6:14 PM.Vaccine mandates will be lifted once New Zealand is past the worst of the omicron outbreak.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the commitment this afternoon but wouldn't put a date on when exactly it… Read more Audio

6:18 PM.There are growing calls from business representatives and doctors for isolation periods to shorten.

One organisation says companies are already having to close due to the 10 day period household… Read more Audio

6:21 PM.Omicron patients will go to a field hospital in Whangārei if Covid-infected patients take up too many beds.

The hospital has been struggling with booming populations, undersized departments and… Read more Audio

6:23 PM.Moana Pasifika has been given a deadline to prove their players are fit to play - and are ready to take the field for their first Super Rugby match.

The new team's competition debut was postponed… Read more Audio