Judith Collins' pre-Budget announcement

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to ‘a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering.’ Video / AP

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters fires back at Simon Bridges after he referred to him as ‘my sweetheart Winston’. Audio / The Country. Photo / Mark Mitchell

There are two new Covid-19 cases today, one of which is an Auckland nurse who has tested positive for coronavirus.The nurse is linked to St Margaret's rest home and is being cared for at North Shore Hospital.

MP David Parker says farewell to Parliament in his valedictory speech.. Video / Parliament TV

Malls, cafes, bars, barbers and schools can open under alert level 2, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Kiwis can expand their bubbles to include friends and family and travel "safely" around the country, Ardern said.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has revealed the Government will be running deficits for an "extended period" of time and its debt levels will reach an all-time high.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff said that the council is implementing the first stage of restrictions on water use to save the city's drought-stricken reserves. Video / Michael Craig

Christopher Luxon holds post-Cabinet press conference

National would introduce a GST refund scheme for businesses badly affected by the Covid-19 crisis to help with cash flow, leader Simon Bridges said in a major pre-Budget speech today.

Achieving zero cases two days in a row was testament to New Zealanders' efforts that "we could be undeniably proud of", PM Jacinda Ardern says.

PM Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand can take heart from there being no new coronavirus cases today. But she says it reflects the success of the lockdown rather than actions during level three.

There are no new cases of coronavirus in New Zealand today. It is the first time in almost six weeks that testing has not uncovered a single case across a 24 hour period.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff speaks with Tim McCready about the impact of Covid-19 on 2021. Video / Supplied

Winston Peters speaks to media

PM Jacinda Ardern's communication style has been praised internationally, including by the World Health Organisation. Just how did Ardern manage to persuade New Zealanders into docility?

There are three new Covid-19 cases today and no additional deaths. One of today's three cases is linked to overseas travel and one to a known case. The origin of another is still under investigation.

Question time

In a speech this afternoon delivered to reporters in the Beehive, Peters said the Government is considering its foreign and trade policy priorities, in light of the global pandemic.

National Party leader Simon Bridges says that lockdown 'has gone on too long' and that 'we don't want to flatten the economy'.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has been front and centre at the daily Covid-19 briefings.

As New Zealand wakes up under Alert Level 3, PM Jacinda Ardern talks to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking about Covid-19 checkpoints, Deborah Russell, and the wage subsidy scheme. Audio / Newstalk ZB

NZ's first civil union couple John Joliff and Des Smith chat about their experience 15 years on. Video / Mark Mitchell

In a historic first, a joint video message has been recorded by the Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and the Governor-General of Australia, General The Hon David Hurley to mark Anzac Day. Video / Supplied

Focus: Anglican minister Rev. John Fox is an opponent of euthanasia being legalised. Video / Mark Mitchell

Labour response to National Cabinet reshuffle

Cabinet reshuffle in National

The Government has unveiled a $50 million package to help the media industry which has seen advertising revenues plummet due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Heather du Plessis-Allan thinks the rumoured National party coup is probably just that, but the story is believable.

Labour holds press conference