Jane Patterson

New Zealand could be facing 50,000 daily Omicron infections by Waitangi weekend, according to modelling by a highly-respected, overseas health research organisation, peaking at about 80,000 each day…

High rates of ICU occupancy across the country throughout the latest outbreak paint an incredibly concerning picture if more people end up needing hospital care over the summer, says the National…

The government has no plans to make any substantial improvements to emergency housing outside of Rotorua until next year.

The police have been actively gathering and analysing detailed information on rising rates of crime and violence at emergency housing, despite insisting for months they do not "specifically" collect…

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to National's leader Chris Luxon in his new office to assess what his leadership will look like.

Power Play - Some believe Luxon could have a better shot at uniting a caucus riven with distrust and resentment after its most recent bout of self-flagellation, writes Jane Patterson.

Auckland's Covid-19 outbreak looks to have peaked but a leading data modeller is warning that the situation could change as the traffic light system is introduced.

Power Play: The expectation was Judith Collins would be rolled by the next election, but it was her own actions that precipitated a pre-Christmas bloodletting, Political Editor Jane Patterson writes.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson and Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn examine New Zealand's ICU and health capacity as Covid-19 spreads, and elimination shifts to…

There are 289 Intensive Care Unit or High Dependency Unit beds at the moment, with Minister of Health Andrew Little insisting that could be ramped up to 550 if needed.

Mandatory vaccines could be part of New Zealand life for some time to come, with the prime minister reluctant to talk about when they might be lifted.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson hits the brakes and looks ahead to the traffic light system, and what it means for Covid-19 in New Zealand.

New Zealand does not yet have a confirmed delivery for paediatric vaccines and the opposition is calling for more urgency.

New Zealand has agreed in principle to the United Kingdom's second free trade deal since Brexit, eventually eliminating tariffs on all New Zealand exports to the country.

Cabinet ministers will consider a traffic light-style system New Zealand could move to once the population is highly vaccinated, RNZ understands.

There is no going back to alert level 4 to halt the spread of the Auckland Delta outbreak, the Minister for Covid-19 Response says. Audio

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says a Covid-19 case's refusal to cooperate with health officials is "beyond irresponsible...dangerous".

Power Play - Another decade, another review of electoral laws - but in the end any fundamental decisions will end up in the hands of politicians, Political Editor Jane Patterson writes.

Power Play - There are too many unlinked cases and clusters popping up for Auckland to move out of alert level 3 for now, as the government ratchets up restrictions in parts of neighbouring Waikato.

Parliament went into urgency this afternoon, for the first reading of legislation making a raft of changes as part of the Covid-19 response.

The Local Government Minister may allow for more council influence in the contentious water reforms, but still refuses to rule out changing the law to force councils to sign up.

Mayors around the country are lining up for a fight as the controversial Three Waters reforms approach another deadline.

Legislation introducing a new offence for planning a terrorist attack comes back to Parliament today, after being expedited as a result of the LynnMall attack.

Analysis - Ministers will decide today the level of restrictions New Zealanders will have to live under - but the signs are not looking good for Auckland to move out of level 4.