More Cases “We are absolutely expecting more cases,” announced New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern during her 1:00PM media conference on Wednesday 18 August 2021. Ministry of Health officials anticipate the number of people infected with the Delta variant of Covid to reach 120. Director General or Health, Ashley Bloomfield advised today that two further […]

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced that as the Lockdown for New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula will be 7 days, businesses in the city and region can apply for the government’s wage subsidy. Although the Lockdown for the rest of New Zealand is expected to last for 3 days, businesses outside […]

Some people trying desperately to return to New Zealand feel like they’ve been missed out in the government’s latest border annoucements. The government plans to ease open the borders from early next year, and travellers will face different requirements based on their risk level. But there’s still no wiggle room in the iron-clad boarders for […]

New research shows the potential for a booming seaweed sector in New Zealand is tied up in red tape and resource consents. The report from the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge found that globally seaweed production has tripled over the last two decades and now makes up a third of all aquatic farming. But it […]

One of New Zealand’s largest buttercup squash growers is diving into Asia’s alternative proteins market with a plant-based milk. Kabochamilk is a collaboration between Hawke’s Bay grower Shane Newman and Sachie Nomura, a Japanese celebrity chef who also developed a world first avocado milk. Kabocha, a Japanese variety of squash, is a staple part of […]

It’s natural right now for New Zealanders to feel uncertainty and anxiety as Covid-19 is detected in the community. Psychologist Sarb Johal shares advice about taking care of your mental health and how to approach the situation. Some were in disbelief upon hearing the news of a community case after a reasonably long period without […]

“One coronavirus case. That’s all it took to send New Zealand into a three-day, nationwide lockdown late Tuesday as the country’s six-month streak without local transmission came to an end.” That’s how Washington Post’s correspondent Michael E. Miller opened his story as news broke last night New Zealand was heading into a level 4 lockdown. […]

People who are fully or partially vaccinated in New Zealand will still need to follow Level 4 rules after a new community case was discovered. At the moment, scientists are still trying to determine just how much more transmissible Delta is, but preliminary guidance indicates it could be as much as 90 percent more infectious. […]

The Reserve Bank has held the official cash rate at a record low 0.25 percent. Economists had thought the reimposition of the Covid lockdown would cause the central bank to delay what was regarded as a near certainty rise. The RBNZ says given the uncertainty caused by the new outbreak justifies leaving policy unchanged despite […]

Commuters can expect to drive the entire Waikato Expressway at 110kmh once the highway is fully open mid next year, Waka Kotahi says. The long stretch of road from Hampton Downs to Tamahere would be one of only two highways in the country that has a 110kmh speed limit. The transport agency will start consulting […]