Justin Hu

Covid-19: When can I get a second booster shot?

Health officials are actively considering whether to expand access to second Covid boosters. It comes as hundreds of thousands of eligible seniors are still being urged to get their extra shot. Currently, health authorities say only people at risk of…

Childcare help for most families with new $190m Govt package

Nearly every sole parent in New Zealand will be eligible for childcare assistance from next year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced, with over 10,000 additional children eligible under a new $189 million support package. The "cost of living…

Rolling closures to hit Auckland train users again until 2025

Tens of thousands of Auckland train commuters will face major disruption to services until the end of 2025 as a major $330 million rebuild project begins in December. In a media release, Auckland Transport (AT) and KiwiRail announced the work would…

Local Govt Turnout: ‘I’ve seen the power of young people – they’re going to shake things up’

Voting in local body elections begins this weekend with hopes that competitive races will finally help councils turn a corner on waning turnout. Justin Hu reports on a crucial test for local government's civic engagement efforts. Turnout in local…

Monkeypox vaccines not expected until December - Pharmac

Monkeypox vaccines aren't expected to arrive in New Zealand until December, according to Pharmac. The drug-buying agency confirmed to 1News that an initial delivery of doses wasn't expected for another three months - subject to a finalised agreement…

Final call for AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab, only 8% of supply used

New Zealand's final cache of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines will expire in a month, with most of the country's $1.2 million supply having gone unused. Under 9000 doses of the non-mRNA vaccine have been administered out of the 120,000 doses the country…

Sylvia Wood elected as National's new party president

Business adviser Sylvia Wood has been chosen to succeed Peter Goodfellow as the new president of the National Party. The new president was revealed by leader Christopher Luxon at the second day of National's annual conference, which is taking place…

Luxon targets youth 'benefit dependency' in new policy

National leader Christopher Luxon has announced a plan to support unemployed youth into personalised job coaching sessions - or face benefit sanctions - as part of new welfare policy announced at his party's annual conference. Luxon announced the new…

Free public transport and egging at the Auckland University mayoral debate

Auckland’s mayoral contestants debated transport projects and dodged eggs last month at Auckland University - seemingly the only debate with an audience under 40 years old. Six mayoral hopefuls turned up to the candidate forum moderated by the…

Geopolitical fears over China not driving EU trade deal - O'Connor

Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says a new free trade deal with the EU is part of ongoing trade diversification efforts, but that ongoing tension with China was not driving a greater sense of urgency on the issue. Speaking to Q+A on Sunday, he said…

Auckland woman waits 5 hours in rain for ambulance after fall

A woman in "extreme pain" after falling from a skateboard waited nearly five hours for an ambulance in Auckland's Manurewa, a witness says. The injured person suffered a fractured pelvis after falling while working at an after-school programme on…

'Not a NZ issue' - Luxon responds to US abortion ruling

National leader Christopher Luxon has again ruled out revisiting New Zealand's abortion laws, if he becomes prime minister, in response to an American court ruling that will see restrictions tighten in around half of America's states. In a statement…

House values in half of New Zealand’s suburbs in decline

New figures show house valuations in half of New Zealand's suburbs are now in decline, as three Auckland suburbs see median values fall by more than $90,000. A new Mapping the Market report from CoreLogic NZ, released on Thursday, showed over 400…

Highly likely new Covid variant will emerge in weeks or months - MoH

The Government will use a new five-scenario framework to prepare for new Covid-19 variants, while Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall says strict public health measures, such as lockdowns or border closures will be a "last resort" in response…

'Serious concerns raised' about Bethlehem College, Ardern says

The Education Ministry is investigating allegations of discriminatory practices towards LGBTQIA+ students at Tauranga's Bethlehem College, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said. Ardern said she took "a very simple view" on the allegations of…

GDP fall a sign of 'very tricky' times ahead - Robertson

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has blamed global conditions for a fall in quarterly GDP figures and is warning New Zealanders of "very tricky" times ahead. Speaking to 1News, he said the 0.2% drop in GDP was a sign of the "very challenging times…

Mark Mitchell challenged on National's proposed anti-gang laws

National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell has been challenged on whether his party's tough new anti-gang policies will be effective if made into law. In an interview with Q+A on Sunday, the Whangaparāoa MP wrestled with how his party's new…

National commits to tough new anti-gang laws if elected

National leader Christopher Luxon has announced a commitment to introduce tough anti-gang laws if brought to power next year, including banning gang insignia from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In a speech to party members, Luxon…

Traffic congestion could choke a tsunami evacuation - research

“Dangerous” traffic congestion could be a major risk during tsunami evacuations in Aotearoa, according to researchers. A research paper published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, in November, found that Kiwis living in hazard…

Gang violence will subside, Police Minister assures Aucklanders

Police Minister Poto Williams has given an "assurance" to Aucklanders that gang activity in the city will subside, but she couldn't speak to claims that the number of gang recruits were outstripping new police officers. Speaking to the media on…