Covid 19
Covid-19: Nurses' organisation on Omicron development
Few groups have been following the current Omicron developments more closely than the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, whose members have already been grappling with the effects of widespread staff… Audio
Covid-19: Phil Goff on Omicron in Auckland
After less than a month in the orange traffic light setting, Auckland residents are back to the more restricted Covid-19 red and the familiar anxiety that the virus - this time the Omicron strain - is… Audio
Covid-19: National Party 'reluctantly' supporting red light move - Luxon
The National Party is supporting the Government's decision to shift to red light Covid-19 restrictions.
Party leader Christopher Luxon says the government should have been doing more to prepare… Audio
Covid-19: Health providers want more vaccinators and testers
Health providers say more vaccinators and testers are needed if New Zealand wants to out-run the spread of Omicron. Members of a Motueka family attended a wedding and other events in Auckland and ten… Audio
Covid-19: Māori vaccinations lag as Omicron looms
Māori health providers are in a race to vaccinate children and boost adult immunisations before Omicron spreads widely.
Ministry of Health data shows 93 percent of the wider Counties Manukau… Audio
Covid-19: More Air New Zealand crew showing symptoms after Omicron case - Foran
Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran says more crew are showing symptoms of Covid-19 and he expects a number of cases in the airline.
Air New Zealand has stood down 15 aircrew members as close… Audio
Covid-19: Modeller Michael Plank's predictions
Te Punaha Matatini's Michael Plank is one of the country's most respected modellers, but even he says Omicron can be a tricky virus to get one's figures around.
Professor Plank has said the peak of… Audio
Covid-19: 'No silver bullet' against Omicron - Chris Hipkins
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins is warning the public to expect large number of Covid-19 cases, and not to rely on masks to stop it.
The entire country is now in red traffic light setting… Audio
Covid-19: Paracetamol flying off the shelves
Paracetamol is flying off supermarket shelves as the country goes into red.
The Government has asked people to be prepared if they need to isolate at home and not leave their house, even for… Audio
Covid-19: Politicians react to Omicron move
New Zealand has moved to a new phase of the pandemic as it battles to slow down the rapacious spread of Omicron.
The Government says it has plans in place to cope with as many as 50,000 cases a day -… Audio
Covid-19: Intensive care nurses bracing for impact
Intensive care units are gearing up for a truly intense time over the coming weeks as the country grapples with the Omicron wave.
The College of Critical Care Nurses has calculated that the country… Audio
Mask advice under review as Omicron community transmission confirmed
Ministry of Health officials are reviewing the current advice around masks and the most effective ones as it is confirmed the highly transmissible Omicron variant is spreading in the community.
Covid-19: Half of New Zealand could catch Omicron
Data modellers believe half of all New Zealanders could be infected with Omicron within four months.
The highly infectious Covid-19 variant is circulating in Auckland, and possibly in the Nelson… Audio
Covid-19: Nelson-Tasman district leaders on first time in red
Nelson Airport, two supermarkets and a car parts store in Motueka are among the locations of interest linked to 10 members in a household confirmed to have the Omicron variant.
Today the… Audio
Covid-19: Omicron is here, but is hospitality ready?
New Zealanders everywhere are waking up this morning and seeing red.
It's a red traffic light for the whole country now, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated the colour won't be changing… Audio
Prof Michael Baker on health impact of Omicron in community
New Zealand is waking up to tighter Covid-19 restrictions this morning after confirmation that a family in the Nelson-Tasman region have the Omicron variant. Ten people have now tested positive in the… Audio
Kiwi scientists develop disinfection system for PPE
In the 2 years since the pandemic began more than 25-thousand tonnes of Covid-related plastic waste has polluted the oceans. But now a group of Kiwi scientists has developed a solution. It's a unit… Audio
Locations of interest linked to Omicron cases released
Flights, airports, supermarkets, and the Sky Tower are among new locations of interest linked to the confirmed community Omicron cases.
Pfizer CEO sees annual Covid vaccine rather than frequent boosters
The head of drug company Pfizer says an annual Covid-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defends Covid hamster cull
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned that Covid-19 infections could be growing exponentially due to an outbreak in pet hamsters.