Doctors are warning the government there is a risk of a catastrophic collapse of the healthcare workforce.

The assurance comes as DOC embarks on its annual 1080 pest control programme on the West Coast which is "quite large".

This week Sam looks at the first Marvel character to get a fourth film instalment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

The sister of a disabled woman has described the state care institution her younger sibling lived in for decades as a "hellhole" and her devastation on learning of the physical abuse and neglect her sister suffered.

A nursing educator says now is the time to boost the number of Māori nurse practitioners - currently, they make up just nine percent of the 612-strong practitioner workforce.

Some coastal residents north of Auckland are preparing for a "David vs Goliath" battle to protect its soft white sand.

As well as restricting vehicle access, the plan would see all car parks along the roads removed, most side streets closed off to become culs-de-sac, and footpaths widened.

The SAFE and NZALA groups believe a win in the High Court over a code of welfare may force the government to ban the entertainment sport.

The Ministry of Health says it is closely monitoring the steady increase in Covid-19 positive hospitalisations as part of an ongoing review.

The role of director of public health was previously held by Dr Caroline McElnay, who resigned in April.

Despite the health workforce crisis, government health officials have given short shrift to an unprecedented proposal to double the numbers of specialised nurses who can cover for a shortfall of GPs.

A deep low-pressure system is moving across the country as the school holidays kick off.

Susie Ferguson has chosen to leave her long-time role as Morning Report presenter in September to take up a new position within RNZ as senior presenter and journalist.

Police are set to undertake a search operation this week for Anaru Moana who was reported missing in December last year.

Ten young people have been arrested after a ram raid on a dairy in Belmont.

One person has died following a two vehicle crash at a State Highway 3 intersection in Taranaki.

Operations are being cancelled or delayed in nearly every public hospital in the country because of winter illnesses, with a prediction it is about to get worse.

Indoor games could be on the cards for the start of the school holidays, with severe weather watches in place for many parts of the country.