Poverty continues to be the major reason why Māori are the victims of crime more often than non-Māori. 

A Ministry of Justice study has found there's been no improvement in the last 15 years.

It's also confirmed what justice reform advocates have been saying for years - that poor housing and low incomes are to blame.

Meriana Johnsen has this report.

The National Party has slammed the Government over its claims that the Covid-19 vaccination rollout is on track.

The Health Ministry has released details showing that just over 90,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been given so far.

National's Covid-19 Response spokesman, Chris Bishop, said a leaked document reveals that the Government planned to have 390,000 people vaccinated by now.

He said the rollout is woefully behind schedule, and IT systems needed to ensure it happens are still not ready.

The head of the Auckland University Immunisation Advisory Centre, Dr Nikki Turner, spoke to Corin Dann.

The government has appointed a team of experts to advise it on critical Covid-19 decisions as the country moves into the next phase of the pandemic response.

These include how many people should be vaccinated before border controls can be relaxed, and how to respond to any new variants that are not covered by the current vaccines.

The group is headed by epidemiologist Professor Sir David Skegg.

He spoke to Susie Ferguson.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Brazil has reached a new milestone no one wants to see.

Its daily Covid-19 deaths have topped 4000 for the first time.

Hospitals are overwhelmed and there are waitlists for ICU beds.

Dr Pedro Hallal is an epidemiologist in Brazil.

He spoke to Corin Dann.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

One major challenge for nightime policing in Wellington is the large numbers of people going into town already drunk - a practice long known as "pre-loading".

Now, Wellington police say that is being backed up with a new tactic - "side-loading".

This is where revellers hit the town to soak up the atmosphere but don't necessarily spend much, if any time at all, inside venues. Instead, they imbibe cheaper store bought alcohol while roaming the streets.

Wellington Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester told police reporter Ben Strang that irresponsible drinking remains the main problem.

A new team of experts has been set up to advise the government on critical Covid-19 decisions as the country moves into the next phase of the pandemic response.

These include how many people should be vaccinated before border controls can be relaxed, and how to respond to any new variants that are not covered by the current vaccines.

The group is headed by epidemiologist Professor Sir David Skegg.

The Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall told RNZ political editor Jane Patterson one of the group's first priorities will be work on a vaccination target.

We'll hear from the head of the new group advising the government on key covid decisions. National's on the offensive over the speed of the vaccine rollout. The trans-tasman bubble doesn't include Western Australia - causing confusion for some. We'll head to the U.S. for the latest on the Derek Chauvin trial.