Analysis - The number of new cases in New Zealand's Delta outbreak is now on a downward trend and we have a good chance of eliminating it, experts Michael Plank and Shaun Hendy write.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 29 staff at Middlemore Hospital are close contacts of a Covid-19 case and have been stood down for 14 days.

A frontline border worker sacked because she refused the Covid-19 vaccine was not unjustifiably dismissed, the Employment Relations Authority says.

As most of the country prepares to leave lockdown, Lucy Corry shares the lessons she learned from an unlikely teacher.

Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall says a new shipment of Pfizer vaccine will enable health authorities to maintain a high vaccination rates.

An independent reviewer says Invercargill residents should feel confident that their local council can do its job after a tumultuous 12 months that included potential government intervention.

Auckland hapu Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are partnering with iwi across the country in a bid to welcome more Whānau to get vaccinated.

Three out five homeowners would not be able to afford their property if they had to buy it at the current valuation, Consumer NZ has revealed.

Officials who initially refused the refugee claim made by Auckland terrorist Ahamed Samsudeen found inconsistencies in his story and said a medical report on him was unreliable.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there is more than one country involved in the additional Pfizer dose deals.

'Sightseers' flouting lockdown rules have been visiting west Auckland to have a peek at nearly 80 homes significantly damaged by flooding last week.

There are 21 new community cases of Covid-19 in the country today.

The government has agreed to allow manufacturing of four critical products in Auckland to restart to support housing construction.

A 19-year-old who fled the LynnMall stabbings and helped a wounded woman says she didn't realise the serious impact the attack had on her until she visited another supermarket on the weekend.

The prime minister has been poorly advised over saliva testing, a top US-based epidemiologist says.

Two train units derailed last month along the Kapiti Coast may be out of action for months.

House builders are being deterred from offering fixed prices on jobs by escalating prices and critical shortages of materials.

Three bouts of bad weather are expected to bring strong winds to much of the country, with temperatures fluctuating wildly from day to day - and the season is the reason.