Covid 19

New South Wales has recorded a new peak of 6394 new Covid-19 cases, with testing programmes in the Australian state straining under a backlog of soaring demand.

Cabinet has agreed to reduce the interval between the second Pfizer dose and booster shot, and there will be a delay in the phased opening of New Zealand's borders.

The death of a man in his 20s has been linked to the Covid-19 vaccine by a board tasked to monitor its safety, but they emphasise the virus posed a higher risk.

Airline passengers fear the ad hoc approach to vaccine pass checks and inconsistent policing of mask wearing are undermining the government protection framework.

Aucklanders are counting down the hours to escape the city limits, but Northland businesses are well aware this summer will be a different kettle of fish. Audio

Māori now make up about half of all cases in the Delta outbreak, despite making up just 16 percent of the population.

Local leaders in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region are calling for checkpoints around the region to protect its residents from Covid-19 this summer. Audio

The West Auckland Whānau Ora Battalion is joining forces with the South Seas Healthcare, Manukau Urban Māori Authority and the Turuiki Healthcare Vaccination Fleets over the next two days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced Auckland and all other red regions, excluding Northland, will move to Covid-19 framework setting orange at 11.59pm on Thursday 30 December.

Ahead of a mid-pandemic holiday period, one clinical psychologist is encouraging people to think ahead if they are looking to avoid Covid-19 dinner table arguments. Audio

There are 95 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today and two further deaths of people with the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The Ministry of Health initially advised moving to the traffic light system only after 90 percent of the entire population - including children - were fully vaccinated.

There are 103 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The government's Covid-19 technical advisory group is considering whether to shorten the time between the second and third dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Audio

Bloomfield reveals Auckland border not necessary under new system, Luxon calls police and iwi checkpoints a waste of resources and district health boards set up mini-MIQS ahead of Auckland's exodus.

The mayor of Gisborne has made an online appeal to anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to get tested after a third positive wastewater sample in the region.

Opinion - As New Zealand gets ready for the festive season under the new traffic light system, the emergence of the Omicron variant is a reminder this pandemic is far from over.

Jacinda Ardern says the first weekend in the traffic light system has received largely positive feedback. Audio