Covid 19

Counties Manukau Health is postponing an average of 13 elective surgery and outpatient appointments a day in a bid to manage the Omicron outbreak.

No decision has been made whether to trespass anti-vaccination madate protesters camped on reserve land in New Plymouth.

The Auckland Domain remains closed to vehicles until further notice, because a small number of anti-mandate protesters have set up tents there and stayed overnight.

Hospitals across the country are receiving anti-Covid-19 mandate protesters returning from Parliament, as some protesters have reportedly been spitting on police in Wellington today.

The Police Association says officers who lost their jobs should be allowed to return to work after a High Court Ruling quashed a Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

There have been 13,606 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, with 263 people in hospital.

Reducing the time between Covid-19 vaccine doses for 5 to 11-year-olds has been rejected by the government's expert advisers.

The Queen has postponed engagements for the second time in a week following her positive Covid test.

Covid-19 is continuing its spread into central and western parts of the North Island, with active cases now confirmed in Rangitīkei, Whanganui and the Ruapehu district.

Children's Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers says the anti-mandate protest on Parliament grounds is no place for children who could be harmed in escalating tension. Audio

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced all Covid restrictions will end in England this week and free mass testing will stop from 1 April.

South Auckland doctors say two new anti-viral drugs to treat patients with Covid-19 are needed now in a bid to manage the country's Omicron outbreak.

The Jobs for Nature Covid-19 recovery programme has sprouted into more than 5000 jobs and 3.2 million plants, the Conservation Minister says.

Wellington shops face a crisis, university buildings have closed for eight weeks and Wellingtonians say they're sick of disruption from the protest at parliament.

The anti-mandate protests in Wellington and around the country have also contained a strong anti-media sentiment with reporters abused and threatened. Audio

Principals are isolating themselves and making teachers work in separate bubbles in an attempt to slow the spread of omicron in their schools.

Police say working collaboratively with anti-vaccine mandate protesters outside Parliament may be the best way to reduce disruption.

Restaurant operators say inconsistent messaging around isolation requirements is forcing many owners to close their doors. Audio