Lately for Wednesday 3 February 2021

Photo: RNZ Andrew Robertson

10:20 MedSafe says yes to the Pfizer vaccine for New Zealanders

New Zealanders will be able to have Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it's ready to be rolled out, after it was given approval today by Medsafe.

The agency has granted provisional approval with 58 conditions for the company to ensure Medsafe is kept up to date with manufacturing and safety information.

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker joins Karyn to explain the process.

University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker Photo: University of Otago, Wellington / Luke Pilkinton-Ching​

10:30 A sink hole appears on Wellington's waterfront without warning  

Who knows what's caused the latest catastrophe involving Wellington's water infrastructure but motorists are being warned tomorrow's commute along one of the city's main arterial routes will be delayed.

Karyn speaks with Wellington City Council's media manager, Richard McLean, about the Capital's latest challenge  - it's only a week since rapid repairs were required on inner city sewerage pipes followed by a dramatic water main burst in Aro Valley.

A sinkhole has opened up in central Wellington, outside the TSB arena. Photo: Supplied / Wellington City Council

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about two recent stories pulled by publishers, vaccine scepticism confronted on talk radio, how close Stuff came to closing during the Covid crisis, and a profile of a prisoner that rubbed readers up the wrong way.

Photo: photo Mediawatch