Serious crash near Ashburton River.

New Zealand's quarantine-free travel pause with Victoria will be extended another six days, the Government has announced. New Zealand citizens will be able to fly home from 11.59pm on June 8, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.

The data-matching system where the Government checks whether MIQ workers are properly tested failed to detect the case of the Grand Millenium security guard, who should have been tested fortnightly but wasn't tested for five months

More than 235,000 people had received their second dose - meaning they are now fully vaccinated.

The Government has declared the flooding as an "adverse event" for Canterbury meaning $500,000 in funding can be unlocked for farmers and growers. Video / Pool

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison mark the hosting of the FIFA women's World Cup after they met in Queenstown for bilateral talks.

The only way north out of Ashburton is by air - 17 roads shut, four bridges damaged and not passable, Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown says.

Anyone flying to New Zealand from Australia must return a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of departure if they have been in Victoria recently, the Government says.

The pause in quarantine-free travel between NZ and Victoria will be extended for a further seven days amid a new outbreak in the Australian state. Video / Jason Walls

National Party leader Judith Collins speaks after the Budget 2021 announcement.

There is a lot to unpack from Budget 2021, so senior economist Brad Olsen breaks down all the key points. Video / Mark Tantrum

Act Party leader David Seymour labels the budget a “beneficiary blowout” after saying in the House the government is “in La La Land!” Video / Mark Tantrum

NZ Herald brings you full Budget coverage as well as analysis, reaction and a look into what it all means for Kiwis. Video / NZ Herald

A New Zealander has died after getting a Covid-19 vaccination, but the Ministry of Health says there is no direct link.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will host Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in Queenstown for their annual meeting at the end of the month.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on how the Government plans to reopen New Zealand's economy to the world in a pre-Budget speech today.

Simeon Brown speaks to the media from Park Estate Road Bridge

There have been more than 388,000 vaccines administered across New Zealand. 120,000 of those have had their second doses.

Police have praised the bravery of shoppers who intervened to confront a man who had stabbed several people in a "random attack" at a Dunedin supermarket.

The Government has announced 500 spaces a fortnight in managed isolation will be allocated over the next 10 months - the majority for skilled and critical workers.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson told attendees that securing the recovery and investing in the wellbeing of New Zealanders would be the focus of next week's May 20 Budget.

Focus Live: PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to US Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Myron Brilliant about the Five Eyes relationship.

New Zealand's Covid-19 vaccine rollout is three per cent ahead of schedule, except in Northland where a big push to use available vaccine is underway.

The Government is creating a new category of "very high risk country" to reduce the number of infected people coming into New Zealand.

Australian Foreign Affairs Ministers Marise Payne said Australia sees in Five Eyes a vital strategic alliance that is key to issues of intelligence. Countries will address concerns in whatever forum they choose, Payne said.

The Auckland airport worker who tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday despite being fully vaccinated cleaned a plane that brought a returnee with the virus back to New Zealand on April 10.

National is already taking aim at the Government's major health sector reform, calling it a "reckless" move that will see regions lose their autonomy.

All of New Zealand's 20 district health boards will be replaced by one, single national health body responsible for the running of all hospitals, the Government has revealed. Video / Mark Mitchell

The newly identified Covid-positive border worker was cleaning a plane from a "high-risk" country and was fully vaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described today's travel bubble opening as an "important milestone" in New Zealand's economic recovery. Ardern thanked everyone who has come to New Zealand from Australia - "welcome".