Covid 19

Canterbury is now the country's Covid-19 hotspot with the highest rates of new infections.

It's nine weeks since Omicron was first recorded in New Zealand and cases have peaked - nearly - everywhere.

It's the biggest intake of foreign students since the borders closed two years ago - but schools and tertiary institutions say it's nowhere near enough.

From Thursday they can start nominating… Audio

Delivering supplies into disaster zones, or even Covid-19 tests to ships waiting to berth in New Zealand, requires precision skill and timing. To make sure its aim is on target the air force is… Audio

Workers employed by the Whanganui District Health Board are using jetboats and flying foxes to help them deliver rapid antigen tests to remote areas.

It's part of a new scheme to ensure that the… Audio

Health Minister Andrew Little says anyone who meets the criteria for Covid antiviral drugs will get them, whether they're vaccinated or not.

[audio_play] "We have a basic principle in the health… Audio

The first shipment of a breakthrough antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 has landed and will be available for patients next week.

Sixty-thousand treatment courses of Paxlovid are set to be delivered… Audio

Canterbury has nearly three times the rate of new Covid-19 infections as Auckland but, so far, the main emergency department says it is coping well.

The number of new cases recorded in the region… Audio

More than 300 people have now died with Covid in this country.

34 new deaths have been reported today, bringing the total to 303.

It's the highest number reported in a single day. Andrew McRae… Audio

New Zealand has reported its highest daily death toll for Covid-19 so far, with 34 people reported dead on Tuesday. 

Twenty-seven of the 34 who died with Covid over the past 10 days were aged over… Audio

More than 200,000 children a day have been staying home from school during the height of the Omicron surge.

Education Ministry figures indicate more than 100,000 have been learning from home on some… Audio

The Omicron outbreak is causing visitor spending to tank in Taranaki after it defied predictions and held its own during the first two years of the pandemic.

The sector wants the government to help… Audio

Here at First Up we get the weekly opportunity to speak with the deputy leaders of both the Labour and National parties. Yesterday Nathan Rarere spoke with National's 2IC Nicola Willis, and began by… Audio

Auckland City's golden mile has yet to stage its own recovery from lockdowns and the exodus of thousands of inner city workers.

Two years into the pandemic, dozens of shops remain empty on the main… Video, Audio