National leader Judith Collins says the new plan on lifting restrictions was "nothing more than a vague wishlist".

A damning review has found that Oranga Tamariki is a "weak, disconnected and unfit" agency - and the Government says it will cease the controversial tactic of child uplifts.

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.

The Government faces a grilling on two unfolding crises: the recent outbreak of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in New Zealand and the Defence Force's involvement in the evacuation of Afghanistan.

National leader Judith Collins says she would rather be at home with her family during the lockdown but felt she should work like other essential workers.

NZDF personnel and the planeloads of people who they are evacuating from Afghanistan narrowly missed explosions that occurred at Hamid Karzai International Airport last night, resulting in dozens of deaths.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says a potential vaccination botch-up at an Auckland centre was "regrettable", but he had confidence in officials to resolve the situation.

The first group of New Zealand citizens, their families and "other visa holders" evacuated from Afghanistan will arrive in New Zealand this afternoon.

PM Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson pay tribute to Sir Michael Cullen.

PM Jacinda Ardern says the focus is to get New Zealanders out of Afghanistan, or those such as translators whose lives were at risk because they supported our country while New Zealand was in Afghanistan.

The Government has approved funding for a pay equity claim for nurses, with nurses, DHBS and the Ministry of Health urged to start negotiations straight away.

Energy Minister Megan Woods says "commercial decisions" made by New Zealand's power companies were to blame for last night's power shortages.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she was "misled" over the latest book about her, saying it was pitched as a book about women and leadership based on interviewing up to 10 political leaders.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government has agreed to make an official apology for the dawn raids targeting Pasifika people in the 1970s.

Pfizer has confirmed that about 1 million doses of its vaccine will be delivered to New Zealand during July.

New Zealand's next Governor-General will be Dame Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will host Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in Queenstown for their annual meeting at the end of the month.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shut down the idea that New Zealand will return to life under Covid-19 alert level 2.5 when the borders open.

The Government has announced 500 spaces a fortnight in managed isolation will be allocated over the next 10 months - the majority for skilled and critical workers.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson told attendees that securing the recovery and investing in the wellbeing of New Zealanders would be the focus of next week's May 20 Budget.

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to US Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Myron Brilliant about the Five Eyes relationship.

The Government is creating a new category of "very high risk country" to reduce the number of infected people coming into New Zealand.

Australian Foreign Affairs Ministers Marise Payne said Australia sees in Five Eyes a vital strategic alliance that is key to issues of intelligence. Countries will address concerns in whatever forum they choose, Payne said.

National is already taking aim at the Government's major health sector reform, calling it a "reckless" move that will see regions lose their autonomy.

All of New Zealand's 20 district health boards will be replaced by one, single national health body responsible for the running of all hospitals, the Government has revealed. Video / Mark Mitchell

The newly identified Covid-positive border worker was cleaning a plane from a "high-risk" country and was fully vaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described today's travel bubble opening as an "important milestone" in New Zealand's economic recovery. Ardern thanked everyone who has come to New Zealand from Australia - "welcome".

The Government has confirmed plans to ban live animal exports from 2023 – a move that has already drawn criticism from some in the industry.

National proposes requiring councils to zone more land for housing immediately.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the minimum wage will increase to $20 an hour on April 1. She said 175,000 New Zealanders will receive the increase.