Aucklanders devoured burgers and coffees while reaching a vaccination milestone on day one of level 3 while a couple who allegedly fled to Wanaka during lockdown have been charged.

Police have confirmed they have found a body while searching for Auckland woman Lena Harrap, who went missing from her Mt Albert home this morning.

Figures obtained by RNZ have revealed New Zealand police used spit hoods on 117 children and young people between 2016 and 2020.

A tiny, jumping moth once feared to be extinct has been found in four new locations in Marlborough.

A homicide investigation has been launched following the death of a 72-year-old man in the Auckland suburb of Favona yesterday evening.

The Department of Conservation was told by overseas experts it should euthanise orca calf Toa just days after it became stranded on the rocks in Plimmerton.

The vast majority of frontline healthcare workers are vaccinated against Covid-19, District Health Boards say, but they can only confirm 75 percent of staff have had two doses at present.

There are 23 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, the Ministry of Health reports.

The Covid-19 Response Minister has given more details on vaccinations, help for Auckland students and the latest MIQ room releases at today's Covid-19 government briefing. Watch it here.

Police and the government are adamant that permanently deploying 200 officers with armed offenders squad skills to specialist units will not lead to routine arming of police by stealth.

The Auckland couple that travelled to Wanaka while the supercity was at Covid-19 alert level 4 are being charged. See how the rest of the day's events unfolded with RNZ's blog.

The Department of Conservation spent $130,000 looking after Toa, the orphaned Orca.

The government is expanding its Predator Free apprenticeship programme with another 25 people to be hired.

Police Minister Poto Williams and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster have announced a $45m package to fund new police tactical teams, extra staff, enhanced intelligence, and training to ensure the safety of frontline officers.

Police have now located the 29-year-old man who was reported missing earlier today.

A free breakfast was an incentive for some tradies to get their Covid-19 vaccination at a pop up clinic in Nelson.

Covid-19 elimination is possible but that does not mean New Zealand will necessarily get to zero cases, the Director-General of Health says.

Three people have been arrested in Auckland over several burglaries at post shops and building sites during the level 4 lockdown.