Michael Neilson is a senior political reporter for the New Zealand Herald based at Parliament in Wellington.
Michael Neilson is a political reporter based at Parliament in Wellington. He has been a journalist since 2016, first at the Gisborne Herald before joining the NZ Herald in 2018, covering social issues, the environment and Māori affairs.
Budget 2023: $160m to gaming sector, rebate for video game developers
The sector contributed $7 billion towards New Zealand’s GDP in 2021.
Budget 2023 breakdown: Massive EV charging expansion among climate change initiatives
New climate-focused initiatives include expanding the electric vehicle charging network.
Budget 2023: Massive boost for Te Matatini kapa haka festival
Te Matatini gets an additional $34 million in funding over the next two years.
Budget 2023: What’s in it for you
Free medicines, cheaper transport and childcare among initiatives.
Three Waters reset: Govt to create 10 new entities; Luxon calls rebrand a 'dumb policy'
The Government will announce its Three Waters replacement today.
'Taking back control': New era as Govt axes most Covid restrictions for Kiwis
Meanwhile, some MPs and health experts say it has gone too far.
Live: Lights out tonight! Govt scraps traffic light system, almost all mask rules
Government moves to new phase of Covid-19 response.
Ardern hints traffic light system could be shelved post-winter
Hospitalisations remain elevated and pressure on the health system continues.
Watch: Standing ovation as Dr Ashley Bloomfield signs off for the last time
Dr Ashley Bloomfield gives his final Covid-19 briefing before leaving his job.
Auckland daily case numbers drop below 1000 first time in 4 months
Meanwhile hospitalisation and mortality rates tell another story.
'Discrimination': Dover Samuels takes hat fight to the bank
He was denied entry with it on, which he says is discriminatory as a kaumātua.
NZ 'considering' sanctions on Russian billionaire oligarch
Alexsandr Abramov is worth an estimated $10b, and owns properties here.
'Get back in line or go' Winston Peters calls for vote of no confidence in Trevor Mallard after trespass
Peters confirmed he was one of the five who had their trespass orders withdrawn.
23 deaths, 14,120 Covid cases reported today
There are 692 people in hospital, including 30 patients in intensive care.
Omicron rules changed: Gathering limits, vax passes - what you need to know
From 11.59pm on Monday 4 April, vaccine passes will no longer be required to be used.
Covid vaccine passports, mandates may go as NZ woos tourists
It comes after she did a promo interview on the Australian breakfast show Sunrise.
Elon Musk has answered Tonga's internet call: reports
The devastating eruption in mid-January damaged an undersea telecommunications cable.
Borders reopen from Feb 27, travellers to self-isolate, MIQ for unvaxxed
The shift to self-isolation will begin from the end of this month.
Charlotte Bellis returning to NZ in March to give birth to her baby girl
'I will be returning to my home country New Zealand at the beginning of March.'
Tribunal says Crown failed to protect Māori in 'fear of a racist backlash'
The Waitangi Tribunal has today released a scathing report.
Watch: Experts explain 'gamechanger' treatments for Covid
They've been described as "gamechangers" in the fight against Covid-19.
Watch: NZ secures 60,000 doses of Pfizer's new antiviral drug
Announcement comes after the first weekend of the new traffic light system.
146 new cases, jabs for kids likely to start in Jan; Omicron expected to spread to NZ
NZ enters the new traffic light system from 11.59pm on Thursday.
'Unprecedented times': Events at Waitangi 2022 cancelled over Covid concerns
The event normally attracts 30,000 to 40,000 people.
Live: Auckland set for 'red' summer, Northland iwi's road block threat
Cases in Auckland continue to plateau.
'At red, it will feel a lot like level 2': Traffic light for your region revealed
There were 182 cases reported today.
Traffic lights on: North Island sees red and orange, all of South Island into orange
Govt announces support for business under new framework.
Watch live: NZ's Covid response - and how vaccinations impact hospitalisation rates
It comes as vaccine mandates kick in for teachers and health workers.
Auckland set to ease restrictions next week, Waikato 'step 2' tomorrow - retailers to re-open
Today's announcement comes as a record number of new cases were reported.
Live: Northland female traveller finally found, showing Covid symptoms
Currently 87 per cent of eligible Aucklanders have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
National upset over Government vax meeting snub
Dr Shane Reti given one minute's notice to discuss Super Saturday push.
Live: D-Day as Auckland on 'knife-edge' - cases 'better today'; return to school under review
Cabinet will be today decide if there are any changes to Auckland's restrictions.
39 new Covid cases, person with virus dies in Auckland
Auckland today enters day 50 of its lockdown as restrictions ease slightly.
24 cases, six in Waikato; vaccine pass to be required for summer events, festivals
It comes ahead of Auckland moving to the first step of its road map tonight.
19 Covid cases today - why officials are expecting another 35 in coming days
It comes as two people tested positive at Middlemore Hospital overnight.
'Golden ticket for NZ' - PM says no level 4 with high vax rates; 15 new cases
Modelling also suggests that vaccinations alone won't be enough to keep the virus at bay.
'Unacceptable': Disparity in DHB staff vaccination levels revealed
Less than half of all staff at one DHB are fully vaccinated.
14 community cases today; new $12k fine for rule breakers
Officials have confirmed how Auckland prisoner who sparked mini lockdown became infected.
Auckland to level 3 for two weeks, rest of NZ to stay at level 2
It comes as three new cases emerged outside the Auckland lockdown overnight.
Live: 13 new cases; truck driver who left Auckland tests positive
It comes as the 'Shot Bro' vaccine buses start doing the rounds.
15 Covid cases today, unlinked cases fall to 10; 'Mr Whippy' vaccine buses hit streets
The numbers come as testing and vaccinations in Auckland ramp up.
Auckland lockdown extended, level 3 'in-principle' in 8 days; rest of NZ stays at level 2
There are still 17 'mystery cases', those yet to be clearly linked back to the outbreak.
Eleven new cases, officials hunt missing link between household cases with different strains
29 mystery cases under investigation, vaccination centre a location of interest.
Delta eliminated in a 'couple of weeks' - NZ response exceeds expectations, says top modeller
It follows news an extra 250,000 doses are arriving from Spain this morning.
Watch: 13 new Covid cases in community; 250k jabs coming from Spain
Thirty-one people in hospital, five in ICU or HDU, and three requiring ventilation.
Two-day - new alert level for most of NZ, hopes rise for Auckland
New 'Delta 2' rules for gatherings and mask use being taken for a test drive from today.
NZ outside of Auckland to level 2 at midnight tomorrow - new mask rules; Covid checks at border
It comes as 20 new cases were reported today - down from a peak of 84 over a week ago.
'Working round the clock' to get more vaccines, says Covid Minister
Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the bounce in numbers is not unexpected.
Making the break - areas south of Auckland now in alert level 3; police set up checkpoints; the 'golden rules' to stay safe
NZ has now split into two alert-level states as the country battles to eliminate Delta.
Live: Splitsville- NZ prepares for different alert levels; 'Level 3 does not mean freedom,' PM warns
Auckland will stay in alert level 4 lockdown for at least two more weeks.
Live: Covid case visits West Auckland vege shop three times in lockdown; 'Positive' signs but mystery cases pose challenge - Govt Minister
"The big risks are indoor spaces at the moment" - Dr Siouxsie Wiles
Live: Auckland factory shuts after positive Covid case; 83 new cases announced; experts predict a plateau
The total number of cases in the outbreak has now gone over 500.
Live: Alert level D-Day - experts plea for lockdown caution, idea for three zones across NZ; Top adviser: 'I'd love to say Santa exists'
Experts want an extension to further stamp out any risk of spread.
68 new Covid cases in community; Virus detected in Christchurch wastewater
The first wave's peak is expected to hit in the next 48 hours.
Live: Ardern not 'too fussed' by Aussie PM's NZ Covid criticism; More supermarkets named as locations of interest; Critical day in outbreak as cases set to surge
Experts back NZ's elimination strategy despite criticism from Aussie PM.
Delta outbreak: 41 community cases, total now 148; Child under 1 youngest case
The next few days will be crucial in determining the outbreak's spread.
Live: Expert's worst-case scenario of 1000 cases; Another Auckland high school confirmed as location of interest
There are now 107 cases in the latest outbreak.
NZ's lockdown extended until midnight Friday; Auckland's for longer
Today the country recorded the highest number of daily cases in more than a year.
'Things will get worse before they get better' - Deputy PM on latest cases, defends Govt response to testing delays
There are now more than 210 locations of interest as NZ spends the weekend in lockdown.
'Possibly a bigger outbreak': Expert predicts longer lockdown; 'Dangerous' locations of interest; Aucklanders queue to be tested
There are now 10 cases of Delta in New Zealand and almost 70 locations of interest.
New location of interest as four new Delta Covid cases, Auckland Hospital nurse tests positive - all linked to Devonport tradesman
A fully vaccinated nurse at Auckland Hospital has tested positive.
Live: NZ now in alert level 4 lockdown; Auckland cafe, pharmacy new locations of interest; two close contacts identified
Fifteen locations of interest have been identified so far.
Delta outbreak would require 'short, sharp' level 4 lockdown - Hipkins
A relook at alert level settings comes as countries grapple with escalating Covid cases.
Covid update: NZ passes 2m jab milestone; 770k fully vaccinated
Vaccination bookings for the 55 and over age band will open on Friday, ministry says.
Seasonal workers allowed into NZ, growers 'delighted'
Seasonal workers from Sāmoa, Tonga and Vanuatu can enter NZ from September.
Experts urge caution on halting transtasman travel bubble
It comes with half the Australian population currently in lockdown.
Covid-infected mariners in hospital; group 4 vaccine invites from next week
Group 4 people will start receiving vaccine notifications from July 28.
16 workers fined for refusing tests; mass vaccination event planned
Hipkins said he warned Kiwis abroad that MIQ demand would increase again.
Travel bubble back on for two states, NSW on pause for 'foreseeable future' - PM
Kiwis stuck in NSW and Queensland will be allowed to come home on Saturday.
Covid update: No new community cases - 'we're not out of the woods yet'
Of the infected traveller's 1752 contacts, 532 have so far returned a negative result.
Covid Wgtn scare: Govt believes infected Sydney tourist has Delta variant - Hipkins
Key question remains if traveller had 'explosive' Delta variant.
Covid jabs approved for Kiwi teens aged 12-15
Around 265,000 children are in the 12-15 age group in New Zealand.
Some Covid vaccine centres could pause to balance supply
There will be an update this afternoon on the quarantine-free travel pause with Victoria.
Covid costs and climate force rethink on huge South Auckland roading project
Project costs ballooned up to $3.5 billion and wider programme over $6b in a year.
Ashley Bloomfield says pandemic 'not even halfway through'
More than 235,000 people are now fully vaccinated.
Thousands of travellers from Melbourne now need to isolate
Pause in quarantine-free travel between NZ and Victoria extended for a further seven days.
PM, Hipkins deny accusations of vaccine roll-out delay
Push back comes after Ministry of Health quietly updated its vaccination timeline.
Education: $761m to build more schools, classrooms
Money for school buildings, tertiary students and vocational training announced.