Aucklanders are set to see six-storey apartment buildings constructed in central suburbs, as the government pushes the council to allow greater intensification in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins does not know how many young people have received surprise invitations to book in for a vaccine.

Several Christchurch city councillors, including newcomer Phil Mauger, are weighing up making a bid for the mayoralty now that Lianne Dalziel has ruled out serving another term.

Auckland Airport's boss is keeping faith with the government's vaccination programme and says its success will be "the catalyst" to reconnecting the country with the rest of the world.

Principals and teachers want answers from the Teaching Council after the High Court threw out its new system for certifying teachers, potentially undermining its financial stability.

Stratford is the only district in Taranaki without a dedicated vaccination clinic, with locals facing a drive of up to an hour to get to hubs in Hāwera or New Plymouth.

Ten homes have been red stickered as the Papatoetoe tornado response team moves to a recovery phase and long-term support.

East Otago residents will have to wait longer for a no drink notice to be lifted from the water supply.

Tourism operators are holding out hope for the return of cruise ships after more than a year without the reliable dose of tourist dollars.

DHB chief executive Dr Kevin Snee hoped patients would be contacted within the next week, but said their well-being was paramount.

A military panel deciding whether a sailor sexually assaulted three colleagues while on tour of duty in Canada is hearing the trial judge's summing-up.

Police are still searching for the prisoner who escaped from Corrections custody in Auckland yesterday.

The Oranga Tamariki facility at the centre of child abuse allegations is being temporarily closed, and all staff there are being placed on leave.

There is one new Covid-19 case in managed isolation today, the ministry of health says, and there are no cases in the community.

Mau Whenua - the group of Taranaki Whānui members who oppose the controversial development at Wellington's Shelly Bay - have confirmed they will be progressing with renewed legal action to overturn the original land sale.

The university said the decision did not include doctoral students and it would not affect students who had already received an offer of place or who were currently enrolled to continue their studies.

WorkSafe is investigating a death on a forestry site near Napier.

As Auckland dipped to its lowest temperatures since 2018 yesterday, the country woke up to another frosty start in this week's cold blast.