The Education Minister has issued a plea for all Auckland parents to send their children back to school, after thousands opted to stay away from classrooms today. Around 250,000 children were expected to return this morning, under Auckland's new level 2.5, but some principals reported only a third of students showing up. But for those who did turn up, many opted to wear face coverings beyond the ride to the school gate. Checkpoint cameraman Simon Rogers and reporter Nita Blake-Persen have the story. Keep Reading

The South Island remains at Covid-19 Alert Level 2 today, a precautionary measure due to Aucklanders now being able to travel again. Other than... Keep Reading

ANALYSIS: The Government is backing it's Covid response, but was it agile or reactive? Keep Reading

The health system has gotten much better at tracking down contacts, but new cases are still being discovered. Keep Reading

Earlier studies have found the vast majority of children with the virus have mild or no symptoms. Keep Reading

Krishna Botica is “prepared for the worst and hoping for the best” for the hospitality industry when Auckland moves back to alert levels 2. Keep Reading

Children can carry coronavirus in their noses for up to three weeks, according to a study from South Korea. Keep Reading

People who've lost their jobs are learning they're never too old to go back to school. Keep Reading

The Government can't say for sure that Aucklanders haven't been flying out of lockdown against the rules. Keep Reading

Auckland businesses that struggled to attract customers while the City Rail Link was constructed nearby are now hanging their hopes customers will return when the city shifts to alert level 2 on Monday. Keep Reading

A Pasifika GP has been appointed to the Government's Testing Strategy Group that will oversee surveillance testing on the wider population to detect rogue Covid-19 cases. It's a win for Pasifika GP Network chairman Dr Api Talemaitoga, appointed to the group, who last week called for Pasifika representation in the Covid-19 response. The group will focus on ensuring Maori and Pasifika people gain effective and fair access to tests, and monitor people at high risk of exposure to Covid-19. Dr Api Talemaitoga is one of two GPs appointed to the group, he speaks to Corin Dann. Keep Reading

He thinks the country should give up trying to eliminate COVID-19 and we shouldn't be pinning our hopes on a vaccine. Keep Reading

As Auckland prepares to ease restrictions from Monday, active COVID-19 cases almost certainly remain in the community. Masks will become compulsory on public transport to avoid new outbreaks. Keep Reading

Here's the latest on the community outbreak. Keep Reading

The Government says the data is skewed by early cases and the next batch will look better. Keep Reading

Newsroom’s Voyager opinion writer of the year Emma Espiner shares a cautionary tale about returning to society after lockdown ahead of Auckland’s anticipated move to level 2 next Monday. Keep Reading

The government has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into a fund to secure a Covid-19 vaccine, but it will not say exactly how much, as it does not want to compromise its ability to do a deal. The money is on top of $37 million earmarked earlier this year for domestic research, boosting manufacturing capability and supporting international research collaborations. The government says this latest round of funding will give it access to promising candidates, as well as joining collective initiatives working toward securing a vaccine. The announcement was made at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, where scientists are racing to come up with their own vaccine. Research director Professor Graham Le Gros said the money shows New Zealand can be taken seriously. Keep Reading

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm talks Kiwisaver and managed funds during the Covid-19 pandemic. Keep Reading

People who attended church services or a wedding at Auckland's Mount Roskill Evangelical Fellowship are urged to get tested for Covid-19. Keep Reading

The airline has essentially grounded all international services due to the pandemic Keep Reading

Boeing claims its prototype UV light can "clean to a high degree – to a disinfecting level – certain pathogens". Keep Reading

The OECD think tank says the UK was the worst affected among major economies between April and June. Keep Reading

Of those seven, five cases are linked to each other but not the cluster. Keep Reading

Contrary to columnists' assertions, New Zealand's elimination strategy is premised on the ability to contain and eliminate small outbreaks at lower alert levels. Keep Reading

The Restaurant Association wants the country to adopt a scheme similar to the UK, which would see the government subsidise meals at eateries. Keep Reading