National leader Judith Collins accuses government of lying over the new Brightline test. Video / Mark Mitchell

The Government will pour close to $4 billion into a scheme to accelerate the pace of new house builds, which is expected to help see "tens of thousands" of new properties built.

The World Expo in Dubai will be a chance for New Zealand to reconnect with the rest of the globe in a post-Covid world, the Prime Minister says.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on the two-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack that "our hearts go out" to the victims of that day.

A review of the government's drug buyer Pharmac will focus on the timeliness and transparency of its decisions.

Case L, the sister of a Papatoetoe High School student, wasn't isolating at home and went to work at KFC Botany three days before she tested positive for the virus. PM Jacinda Ardern said about 15 texts and phone calls were made to the family.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she knows many New Zealanders were upset, frustrated and angry about the Covid rulebreakers which plunged Auckland into lockdown.

Auckland will move to alert level 1 at midnight tonight and masks will continue to be mandatory on public transport.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she was only informed about the new Covid community cases about 90 minutes before the public was told.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has jumped its final approval hurdle and after being given the tick by ministers.

The Government today confirmed it would repeal and replace the Resource Management Act this term - marking one of the biggest regulatory shake-ups in the environment space in recent times.

New Zealand was suspending all high level political contact with Myanmar, there would be restrictions on aid and a travel ban on Myanmar's leaders would be implemented next week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

PM Jacinda Ardern announces first Matariki public holiday for 2022. Video / RNZ

Medsafe has conditionally approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in New Zealand and the first Kiwis to get it will be MIQ workers and their families.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson announces a deal to settle the issue at Ihumātao with the Government buying the land from Fletchers for $29.9 million. Video / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Government ministers have agreed in principle for a travel bubble with Australia early next year, depending on decisions by Australian ministers.

The Government will start the process of giving every New Zealander an extra five days of sick leave a year before Parliament adjourns for the summer break.

PM Jacinda Ardern on compulsory masks and last week's CBD lockdown

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has been rewarded by voters with a landslide win — delivering her power in her own right, and an absolute drubbing to the National Party.

National leader Judith Collins is in the studio with Newstalk ZB's Kerre McIvor

ACT leader David Seymour says he hasn't drunk alcohol since December 2018. He told Chris Lynch on Newstalk ZB's Canterbury mornings that he was sick of feeling hungover after going to events.

Newstalk ZB's Heather Du Plessis-Allan, political commentator Trish Sherson, former Labour MP Chris Carter and ZB's political editor Barry Soper discuss National's attacks on Labour over the wealth tax.

On Chris Lynch's Newstalk ZB show this morning in Christchurch, the National leader said Jones' announcement was "verging on corruption of the system" because it was made so close to the election.

How different would it have been if NZ First wasn't in Government? Shaw said the Government would have been able to move faster in a lot of areas.

Winston Peters has rated the coalition Government's Covid-19 response an eight out of ten. The NZ First leader told Mike Hosking the Government claimed to go early and hard against the virus.

David Seymour is predicting the demise of his own party. "In five elections time, the Greens will be gone, Act will make it for the next few elections but probably not forever, and we will be back to two parties."

NZ First leader Winston Peters is in the studio with Newstalk ZB's Kerre McIvor

The Front Bench: Judith Collins politicising her Christian faith to win votes

National leader Judith Collins on why her party should lead New Zealand through a pandemic and the economic fall out during the first of Newstalk ZB's Leaders Breakfasts.

Live debate: Should Kiwis have the choice to end their life? An expert panel debate whether New Zealanders should be able to request help to end their lives.