Latest from NZ Herald Focus Live

Focus Live: 194 new cases, Auckland border to lift on Dec 15

November 17 2021 People will be able to travel to or from Auckland from December 15 if they have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or have returned a negative test. There are 194 cases of Covid-19 in the community today and a further person has died with the virus.

Focus Live: Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Dr Nikki Turner on vaccination rates

Ministry of Health officials and public health experts on how high vaccination rates affect the response to Covid-19.

Focus Live: Waikato moves to level 2; booster shots offered from Nov 29

November 15 2021 Cabinet has agreed to move Waikato to alert level 2 from midnight tomorrow - and the rollout of booster vaccination shots will start from November 29.

Police monitor large tangi procession moving across Auckland city

Funerals, tangihanga and burials have a 25-person limit under level 3, step 2.

Focus Live: 201 new Covid-19 community cases

November 12 2021 There are 201 new Covid-19 community cases today on a day the virus was confirmed to have been found in Taranaki. Of these 181 are in Auckland, 15 in Waikato, four are in Northland and one is in Taranaki.

Focus Live: Alleged Colombian cocaine smugglers arrested in New Zealand

November 11 2021 Alleged drug smugglers accused of bringing millions of dollars' worth of cocaine from Colombia into New Zealand allegedly have direct links to the feared Medellin cartel, it's understood.

Focus Live: 147 new Covid-19 community cases

November 10 2021 There are 147 new community cases today and a man isolating at home with Covid-19 in Auckland has died suddenly, the Ministry of Health says. Of today's cases, 131 are in Auckland, 14 in Waikato and two are in Northland.

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern visits Auckland for the first time since August

November 10 2021 As the Delta outbreak's total case numbers approached 4000, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made her first visit to Auckland after three months into lockdown.

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern on the Auckland/Northland border

'We've not set any date on its removal" - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on the Auckland/Northland border.

Focus Live: Auckland moves to 'step 2' next week, Waikato tomorrow

November 1 2021 Cabinet has made an in-principle decision to move Auckland to level three, step two from next Tuesday at 11.59pm. Waikato will also see an easing of restrictions to step two from tomorrow at 11.59pm.

Focus Live: 89 new Covid-19 community cases

October 28 2021 There are 89 new Covid-19 cases in the community today. Eighty-three of the cases are in Auckland, four are in Waikato and two are in Christchurch. The Government will hold Christchurch at alert level 2.

Focus Live: 74 new community cases; Nov 15 school return plan

October 27 2021 There are 74 Covid cases in the community today, as the Government reveals a tentative plan for primary schoolchildren to return to classes on November 15.

Focus Live: Government to force through Three Waters reforms

The Government is set to force through its Three Waters reforms, u-turning on a previous promise to make it voluntary for councils to join up to the amalgamation plan.

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern announces vaccination mandates for businesses

October 26 2021 Workers at businesses where vaccine passports are required will have four weeks to get the jab - or risk losing their jobs.

Focus Live: Ardern reacts as quake strikes during press conference

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reacts as earthquake strikes during press conference. Video / NZ Herald

Focus Live: 'Listen to the heartbreak' - Judith Collins on the new Covid traffic light system

October 22 2021 'Listen to the heartbreak' - National leader Judith Collins responds to PM Jacinda Ardern's announcement of a new traffic light system used to manage Covid-19.