An international affairs expert says New Zealand's tailored approach to further sanctions on Russia is a strategic move.

The Russia Sanctions Bill is will pass under urgency this week and soon freeze onshore assets and ban ships and aircraft from New Zealand's space.

Professor of International Affairs at Otago University Robert Patman says the bespoke approach protects both New Zealand's reputation and independence.

Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

The domestic netball league gets underway this weekend under a massive Omicron cloud.

With the latest modelling suggesting that the outbreak is likely to peak in the next two weeks, the timing couldn't be worse for the ANZ Premiership.

Netball New Zealand doesn't have the resources to relocate squads to a bubble - instead, the franchises will have to draw on a much wider player pool.

Bridget Tunnicliffe reports.

Otago's new cycle trail has eclipsed expectations in its first year, with nearly ten times more visitors than predicted.

The Lake Dunstan cycle trail opened in May last year and goes from Cromwell to Clyde, weaving around cliffs on a platform suspended above the water.

It was expected to get about 7,000 people in the first year. But with two months still to run on that milestone, more than 62,000 riders have hit the trail.

Trail Network Trust chairman Stephen Jeffery talks to Lisa Owen.

It has the makings of a Jurassic Park-esque film but it could be closer to reality than we think.

Scientists are trying to resurrect a creature extinct from mainland Australia for about 3000 years - all thanks to genome sequencing.

The Tasmanian tiger is one of the top candidates for a comeback and a team of Aussies are at the forefront of the research.

We asked Melbourne University Professor Andrew Pask just how long will it take to raise the dead.

As New Zealanders battle to budget for growing bills, talk of tax cuts is tempting some voters looking to balance the books.

National is promising cuts across the board if elected, to deal with what it calls the 'cost of living crisis'.

But the Prime Minister says no such crisis exists, and opinion seems split on whether reducing the government take is the right option right now.

Anei te kai ripoata a Nita Blake-Persen.

News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6299848273001

Up to 1,500 people in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago area will have to be re-vaccinated, after a major mishap with the storage of the Covid-19 vaccination.

The jabs were given between the December 1 last year and January 28, 2022.

Southern Health DHB says the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was not stored at the correct temperature, and the people who got it may not be immune to the virus.

Chief executive Chris Fleming told Checkpoint that all vaccine providers are supposed to check the data log on their stocks frequently. He understands daily. 

The storage of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at some locations in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago was too cold he said. 

Fleming said without proper investigation he won't assume that checks of the data log were not done over the period, but acknowledged that conclusion could be drawn.

'This is murder - and I have not heard a reaction'. The words of the Ukrainian president - as he angrily condemned Russia's ruthless bombardment of his country.

The UN says 1,100 civilians have been killed during Russia's invasion - but that number is expected to underestimate the reality on the ground.

Ceasefire attempts have failed - and Russian forces are continuing to gather both east and west of the capital, Kyiv.

Andrew McRae reports.

National leader Chris Luxon has tested positive for Covid-19. It comes after his 'attack on tax' in yesterday's state of the nation address zeroed in on Auckland's controversial regional fuel levy.

But the plan's critics say scraping the 11.5 cents a litre tax at the pump would push back projects in Luxon's own electorate.

Meanwhile some of his constituents in Botany appear keen to have their cake and eat it too - out with the tax, but in with planned public transport upgrades paid for by the tax.

Nick Truebridge and cameraman Nick Monro went for a drive.

The government is slapping sanctions on Russians with connections to New Zealand and President Putin.

New legislation will let the government freeze the assets of people associated with Russia, and prevent Russian elites from moving their money and assets to New Zealand.

Russian flagged super yachts, ships and aircraft will be blocked from entering New Zealand waters or airspace.

The government has also released a list of 100 people on the black list - banned from coming to New Zealand. Top of the list - President Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says with Russia using its veto power to avoid UN sanctions, the government has decided to bring in these moves.

She says the bill will pass through the house under urgency this week.

Robert Ayson is Professor of strategic studies at Victoria University of Wellington. He talks to Lisa Owen.