October 3 2021 Hamilton, Raglan and several other Waikato towns will move to alert-level 3 from 11.59pm tonight after the discovery of two Delta cases, and the spread of the virus beyond Auckland's borders.

Focus Live: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian resigns following anti-corruption watchdog bombshell. Video / ABC News

October 1 2021 There are 19 new cases of Covid-19 today, all in Auckland. Of today's cases, only one is yet to be linked to another case, with nine unlinked cases over the past 14 days.

An armed person has been shot by police after a vehicle pursuit spanning several suburbs in Auckland this morning.

September 30 2021 There are 19 Covid cases in the community today. Eighteen of the cases are in Auckland and the other is a child who attended Mangatangi School, who had been isolating.

September 29 2021 There are a "sobering" 45 new Covid cases in the community today, including 12 unlinked 'mystery' cases. All of today's cases are in Auckland.

The National Party wants nationwide lockdowns to be "a last resort" once 70 to 75 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated - and border restrictions to ease for the fully vaccinated when coverage hits 85 per cent.

September 28 2021 There are eight Covid cases in the community today, including a person who presented at Waitakere Hospital. There is one unlinked case today - the person who arrived at the hospital. Five staff members have been stood down.

September 27 2021 There are 12 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today. The seven-day rolling average of Covid cases in NZ is now 15, compared with 17 last week and 19 the week before.

September 23 2021 A high vaccination rate would be a "golden ticket" for New Zealand and make level 4 lockdowns a thing of the past, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Ardern's comment followed the announcement of 15 new Covid-19 cases in the community.

September 22 2021 There are 23 Covid-19 cases in the community as Auckland enjoys its first day of alert level 3. 80 per cent of eligible Kiwis in Auckland are now vaccinated with at least their first dose.

Police are scaling up firearms training and will create a new tactical response team in response to increasing violence against officers.

September 21 2021 There are 14 Covid cases in the community as Auckland prepares to shift down to alert level 3 tomorrow.

September 20 2021 Auckland will end its five-week alert level 4 lockdown when it moves to level 3 for two weeks from 11.59 pm tomorrow night. The rest of New Zealand will remain at level 2 - with one part of the Waikato with three new cases to temporarily move into a "bespoke" level 4 for a short period.

September 19 2021 There are 24 new Covid cases in the community in what is the penultimate day before Monday's big alert levels decision.

September 17 2021 There are 11 new cases in the community today taking us past the grim milestone of 1000 cases in the Delta outbreak. Two of today's cases are unlinked at this stage.

Police have confirmed three children, all aged under 10, have died at a property in Timaru. Detective Inspector Scott Anderson provided an update at 1pm and said the deceased were siblings. Two were 2 and the other was 6. Video / George Heard

September 17 2021 There will be no changes to the timing of school holidays in Auckland from the beginning of October despite the region having been in lockdown for nearly five weeks.

For the first time in 60 years of human spaceflight, a rocket has blasted into orbit with no professional astronauts on board, only four tourists. Video / SpaceX

September 14 2021 There are 15 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today - and all have been linked to other cases in the outbreak.

September 13 2021 Auckland will remain at level 4 for another week, until 11.59pm on September 21. Level 2 will remain in place for the rest of New Zealand for another week, and Cabinet will review these settings on Monday next week.

September 12 2021 There are 20 new community Covid cases today, all are in Auckland. No staff or patients have returned a positive case after being in potential contact with the cases in Middlemore Hospital.

September 10 2021 There are 11 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand - all in the Auckland region. There are 27 people currently in hospital, including four in ICU.

A one-way travel bubble with the Pacific for some workers will open in October. It will mean Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu will be able to come to New Zealand without having to go through MIQ.

September 9 2021 There are 13 new Covid-19 cases in the community today. Spain is sending 250,000 Covid jabs to New Zealand - enabling this country to keep up record levels of vaccinations.

September 8 2021 There are 15 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today. There are 37 people in hospital, including six in ICU or HDU.

September 7 2021 There are 21 new Covid-19 community cases today and are all in Auckland. The Government is finalising arrangements to provide additional supply of Pfizer vaccine doses.

All of New Zealand - except for Auckland - will move to alert level 2 at 11.59pm on Tuesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.

There are 20 new Covid cases in the community - the lockdown is slowing the outbreak, says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

September 4 2021 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said seven people were injured in the terror attack at an Auckland supermarket yesterday and three people are still in a critical condition.