Covid 19
Police say anti-mandate protest at Parliament 'unprecedented'
Police are warning it could take days to remove anti-mandate protesters from Parliament's lawn. See how the day's events unfolded with RNZ's live blog.
New isolation rules for critical workers released
As New Zealand prepares for an Omicron onslaught, the government has unveiled new rules designed to keep the virus from grinding the country to a halt.
The virus has caused major supply chain… Audio
Napier's art deco festival going ahead, but hugely scaled back
Despite the many event cancellations around the motu, Napier's art deco festival is still going ahead next week, but it will be hugely scaled back.
Organisers have had to cancel more than 200 events… Audio
EMA on RAT tests for critical businesses
The government says its taking a light touch when it comes to policing businesses that register as critical for the Covid test to work scheme.
Workers that qualify, will be allowed to skip Covid 19… Video, Audio
Nurses not being supplied N95 masks - nursing union
N95s are recognised as the best masks to wear to prevent catching Covid-19 - they're the ones all our MIQ staff are wearing.
But many of our nurses say they're just not being provided for hospital… Video, Audio
Families in motels brace for border opening
As Aotearoa's border reopening edges closer, families living in motels fear the country's housing crisis is about to get a whole lot worse. Audio
Covid-19 Response Minister on critical isolation exemptions
Who is a critical worker and who is not? For business it could literally be a multi million dollar question.
From today they can decide for themselves if they fit the bill and register for the… Video, Audio
Protesters refuse to leave Parliament’s grounds, 120 arrested
Police have arrested 120 protesters on the grounds of Parliament during the third day of anti-mandate demonstrations.
A massive deployment of officers is slowly and methodically picking out… Video, Audio
Second Covid-19 case confirmed in Queenstown
Two confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Queenstown Lakes district are being described as a wake-up call for the community.
Covid-19 update: Record 306 new community cases today
There are 306 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today - a new record high - with 216 cases in Auckland alone.
Covid-19: Two cases discovered at intermediate school in Gisborne
About half of the students and seven teachers at an intermediate school have to isolate after two students were found to have Covid-19.
Trudeau slams 'unacceptable' trucker protests
"It has to stop," the Canadian Prime Minister says of the two-week protests against Covid restrictions.
Lobster exports crawling back up after Covid-19 grips industry sales
Two years after New Zealand's $300 million rock lobster export industry came to a halt overnight due to the pandemic, harvesters are feeling more optimistic about sales.
PM tells anti-vaccine mandate protesters outside Parliament to 'move on'
Jacinda Ardern says "obviously every New Zealander has a right to protest, but there are also rules around what is able to happen on Parliament's forecourt".
Protest has the risk of becoming a superspreader event - expert
A protest on Parliament grounds, which has entered its third day with campers staying overnight, is at risk of becoming a Covid-19 superspreader event, says an epidemiologist. Audio
UK: PM's Saville slur rumbles on
UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to talk about the rebuke delivered to Boris Johnson over his attack on Sir Keir Starmer over Jimmy Savile, after protesters pounced on the opposition… Audio
Covid-19: Auckland restaurateur wants support
As we're reporting this morning, dozens of cafe, restaurant and venue owners in central Auckland say they are on the brink of bankruptcy, with the looming Omicron wave keeping customers away.
Yael… Audio
'It's really dire': Auckland restaurant owners plead with Finance Minister for support
Dozens of cafe, restaurant and venue owners in central Auckland say they are on the brink of bankruptcy, with the expected Omicron wave keeping customers away.
Anti-vaccine Murupara GP suspended pending further investigation
The anti-vax GP has been pushing his views on the practice's Facebook page for months, calling the vaccine "a gene therapy injection".
Covid-19: NZ-trained nurses consider leaving over visa trouble
A group of New Zealand-trained nurses - some working with Covid patients - are considering leaving the country because they can't get a visa to live here.
