An Otago University law professor says there's a need for a prioritisation system within MIQ bookings, with people left waiting over a year to be granted entry to the country.

Auckland case numbers spike, National Party calls for end to lockdowns and Police and Navy investigate staff for crossing Auckland boundary without exemption.

Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida has won a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race, virtually ensuring he succeeds Yoshihide Suga as prime minister within days.

The latest spike in cases could be a sign elimination is not working and Delta is spreading in vulnerable communities, experts say.

A mobile app diverting restaurant-quality food from the bin and into people's bellies at a discount launched in Wellington today.

In two separate incidents, a high-ranking police officer and a junior navy sailor are being investigated for breaching the Auckland boundary without exemptions to attend funerals.

TVNZ staff will undertake training on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, bias, and racism following the release of an internal review on Police Ten 7 after it was called racist.

Just one of the 112 people who have been in hospital in the latest outbreak was fully vaccinated, while 90 had no vaccination.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the 45 new cases was a "sobering number" but alert level decisions were made on many other factors.

The government has announced a $600,000 top-up to a $4 million package announced earlier this year, targeted specifically for rainbow youth.

Two Auckland drive through vaccine events are encouraging students and whānau to get vaccinated with donated prizes.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says many of today's cases were linked, and in some sense "they were expected".

A builder of the much-delayed Transmission Gully motorway project north of Wellington has gone to court seeking $75 million from the engineer alleging "defective" designs when costing the project.

For many Auckland parents, school holidays will be more of the same - being at home with the kids. Psychologist Dr Melanie Woodfield has some tips.

A sleep expert says Auckland's Covid-19 lockdown may have made adjusting to daylight saving time harder for the city.

A dangerously run down bridge that loads of the country's vegetables cross over near Mt Ruapehu has won replacement funding.

The Ministry of Health says it doesn't recognise vaccines a person has received overseas.

Conservation groups and iwi are joining forces in a bid to make Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island predator free.