Navigation for Lately

No caption

Photo: RNZ

10:18 COVID-19 SURGE

While it never went away Covid-19 is back with a vengeance

Hospitalisations of people with Covid-19 and case numbers are soaring, pushing our health system --already struggling with other winter illnesses -- to the brink.

No caption

Photo: Supplied

The culprits are the new BA.4 and particularly BA.5 subvariants of Oh-micron.

In Australia they're dealing with a similar surge and will soon make a fourth vaccine available to anyone over the age of 30.

But the effectiveness of the original vaccines is waning and even those who have already caught the virus are being reinfected, some within a month.

Immunologist Professor Graham Le Gros talks to us about how the variants are affecting us differently.


10:25 CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW STADIUM

A huge day for Christchurch today after the city council voted to build a new $683 million dollar stadium.

After nearly six hours of debate and discussion councillors voted 13-3 in favour of the new arena which has seen its costs blow out from a budgeted 533 million dollars.

Indicative design for the new Christchurch stadium

Photo: Supplied

But the cost is not putting a damper on the celebrations with councillors, business leaders and many residents saying the decision will guarantee the future of the South Island's largest city.

With a new multi-purpose stadium opening in 2026 the city expects it will now attract big name performers and significant sporting events, which it is has missed out on in the past 10 years.

Though it might not be that easy.

Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium boss Terry Davies said today Christchurch was being naive if it thought it would get everything that came to the South Island.

10:35 HEATPUMP 101

It turns many New Zealanders have been using their heat pumps all wrong. ECCA senior advisor Gareth Gretton talks to Karyn about how to get the most out of a heat pump while keeping the cost down.

Hand holding remote control directed on the air conditioner

Photo: 123RF

10:55 1972 KINGSWOOD TURNING HEADS

Journalist Martin van Baynin's Holden Kingswood is up for sale, and comes with a boot-load of political and media history.

Photo:

The Holden Kingswood was around from 1968 to 1984 and was marketed as the "family car" for Australians. And New Zealanders. We had one or two here...

They're now classic cars and look great with surfboard strapped to the roof...

TRACK