Covid 19
Anti-vax group Voices for Freedom supporting local council candidates
Three local government candidates in Whakatāne district have the support of anti-vaccination mandate organisation Voices for Freedom.
Case numbers drop, but 'Covid is not going away' - Ministry of Health
Case numbers, "as expected", have continued to decline but it is not the time to get complacent, Ministry of Health Deputy Director-General Dr Andrew Old says. Video
Long Covid adding strain to chronic fatigue non-profits
Long Covid has added strain to support services for those suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, amid calls for the condition to be classified as a disability. Audio
Chinese scientists develop face mask that can detect Covid-19
Scientists in China say they have developed a face mask capable of detecting Covid-19 in the air.
Covid-19 is not over for disabled people
Opinion - Covid-19 remains a hefty risk, particularly to the disabled community - and many are alarmed New Zealand has ended most restriction rules, Chris Ford writes.
Man's death ruled a result of rare reaction to Covid-19 vaccine
Dunedin plumber Rory Nairn died from myocarditis caused by the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, a coroner has found.
Covid quarantine bus crash kills 27 and injures 20 in China
A bus carrying infected people to a Covid-19 quarantine facility in China has crashed, killing 27 of those on board.
Australian Correspondent Brad Foster
Brad Foster reports on a big weekend of football over the weekend, feelings about last week's Bledisloe Cup loss, and changes to COVID reporting. Audio
Covid-19 update: 9606 community cases mark move to weekly reporting
There have been 9606 cases of Covid-19 reported in the community over the past week, with today marking the transition away from daily reports to weekly.
Workers want work-life flexibility - how should employers respond?
Two-thirds of New Zealand workers surveyed from small and medium sized companies said they want more work-life flexibility, so how should bosses respond?
Five ways to make NZ's eased Covid response smarter
Analysis - With Covid restrictions eased, it's time to build on that success with a strong, science-informed strategy before the next pandemic arrives, write professors Michael Baker and Nick Wilson.
Booster shots needed to keep up immunity from Covid-19
Data shows that our New Zealander's aren't taking the opportunity to protect themselves against Covid with booster shots in the same numbers as we did mid-pandemic . Around the First Up newsroom we've… Audio
Is New Zealand well prepared for the next Covid wave?
Analysis - While modelling suggests it was time to wind back Covid restrictions, some measures were perhaps scrapped prematurely, Michael Plank and David Welch write.
Donut Robot in Napier forced to park up permanently
For the past eight years Donut Robot has been parking up on Tennyson Street in Napier and serving delicious donuts to locals and visitors. Now, owner Steve Toohey has been forced to close. Steve… Audio
Principals react to $20mil gov funding for struggling students
Millions of dollars in government funding is being directed to help with extra teaching for pupils who have fallen behind during the Covid-19 pandemic.
$20 million will go towards extra support for… Audio
Why there isn't a Covid-19 update today
The Ministry of Health has dropped its daily update on Covid-19 case numbers and will shift to weekly reporting.
How risky is flying without a face mask?
After two years of having to wear face masks on flights to and within New Zealand, the requirement has now been lifted.
With masks gone 'there's no excuse now for kids not to be back in schools'
Fewer than 60 percent of students attend school regularly across the country and the government has set a target for 70 percent of students to be back in the classroom regularly by 2024 and 75 percent…
Covid-19 update: 1941 new community cases, 241 people in hospital
There are 1941 new community cases of Covid-19 to report today, the Ministry of Health says.
Covid-19: Travellers likely to become main driver of virus spread, says expert
Otago University epidemiologist Michael Baker says we should not abandon all controls at the border and our infectious disease surveillance should be improved because pandemics are becoming more… Audio
