The Silver Ferns showed signs of a tumultuous netball year catching up on them - as they faded to a four-goal loss to Aotearoa men in Wellington last night.

In what was almost certainly their last top-flight game of 2021, the national women's team couldn't complete a clean sweep of the series, going down 57-53 after winning the first two tests.

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua spoke to Corin Dann.

Parents of immigrants seeking residency say they feel invisible after they were left out of the latest immigration reprieve.

It's five years since the immigration parent category was suspended.

Two years ago the Government promised it would reopen in March 2020 but then Covid-19 hit and it was put on hold again.

Gill Bonnett reports.

Schools in Tāmaki Makaurau were supposed to open for term four next week but distance learning will continue for the forseeable future.

Auckland mum Farheen Hajira works from home and for eight weeks has done so alongside her two children - 10-year-old daughter Zara and 16-year-old son Armaan.

It's not always happy families.

Farheen and Armaan spoke to Corin Dann.

Political leaders in the South Island say there is little appetite to break away from the team of five million, and getting the nation vaccinated is top priority.

However MPs do want to know why the mainland is still at alert level 2 and can't drop to level 1.

Reporter Kirsty Frame has more.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Twenty-five years after the country's first MMP election, there are now more Māori in parliament than ever. 

Greater diversity and better representation for Māori was one of the promises of the reforms. 

But while the number of MPs are up, some say the outcome has been something of a mixed bag. 

Jamie Tahana reports.

It's 'no jab, no job', for people working in the education sector and already a small number of teachers have said 'thanks but no thanks.'

New Zealand Principals' Federation president, Perry Rush, told the programme earlier three staff promptly handed in their notice rather than be fully vaccinated by New Year's Day.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins told me schools will soon be given support as to how to handle those who choose to leave rather than get the jab.

New Zealand will be running a 'Vaxathon' on Saturday to try an encourage the public to get their Covid-19 shots.

Who better to discuss the youth- and cultural-adjacency of the 'Vaxathon' than one of its star presenters, Sonny Ngatai.

He spoke to Kim Hill.

The country's first-ever 'Vaxathon' takes place this weekend on what's been dubbed Super Saturday.

It's a national day of action in which everyone who hasn't, will be urged to get their Covid-19 vaccine shot.

Manukau ward councillor Efeso Collins says he's excited about the event, but also hopes it's a little less like the Telethon of old and perhaps a lot more like TikTok of today - at least if some of the still-missing young people in South Auckland are going to be pulled in by the cause.

He spoke to Corin Dann.

A late goal to replacement midfielder Niko Kirwan handed the All Whites a 1-nil win over Bahrain in their international friendly. Kirwan scored in the 88th minute to help the New Zealanders seal two wins from their two games in the Middle East.