The Australian Prime Minister who earns an annual salary of $549,250, is not planning to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said unless there is an unexpected surge in coronavirus cases over the next few days, New Zealand will ease lockdown.

After the coronavirus pandemic shut down global sport, New Zealand Rugby and the players' association agreed to put on hold £12mi, or 50 per cent of the year's remaining forecast spend.

Barring an upswing of new COVID-19 cases in the new few days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will on Monday decide to lower New Zealand's lockdown from level four to level three.

Politicians in the UK and Australia have doubled down on their refusal to reduce their pay packets since Ms Ardern said she and her top staff would slash their salaries by 20 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said there is a 'serious possibility' that New Zealand could open borders to Australia sooner than the rest of the world If the rate of infection continues to drop.

Two applicants made multiple claims against New Zealand's Prime Minister at Auckland High Court on Thursday.

More than 350 unsuspecting community members were tested for COVID-19 in Christchurch when they went to do their grocery shopping on Friday.

Police are looking for a woman (pictured) accused of spitting at a transport worker. Auckland Transport CEO Shane Ellison said the incident was "upsetting."

EXCLUSIVE: Pichot wants the Lions to travel to new destinations - as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as part of his vision to globalise the sport if he is elected World Rugby chairman.

The driver had been stopped by police in a suburban street in New Zealand last week. They claimed they were going to the supermarket but police didn't believe them.

New Zealand has seen its infection rate fall since going into strict lockdown nearly three weeks ago, with fewer than 20 new cases recorded each day over the past three days.

Jacinda Ardern has announced the removal of the toughest measures from New Zealand's coronavirus clampdown.

Quick-thinking Silicon Valley billionaires booked flights for New Zealand as soon as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate.

Australia's best new facial treatment has been revealed in a competitive beauty competition after thousands voted for their favourite products online.

Radio host Mike Hosking challenged the New Zealand Prime Minister for saying level four lockdown is to be extended by 'two business days' when retailers will be missing out on five days of trade.

The group performed the traditional Māori war dance in a ward in the Tavistock Hospital in Devon, southwest England over the weekend.

A crew member serving food to hundreds of passengers may have been responsible for the coronavirus outbreak on board the Ruby Princess cruise ship.  

It's the international pop collaboration that is set to whip fans around the world into a frenzy. 

Jenny McGee, 35, was singled out for praise alongside Luis Pitarma, 29, by the Prime Minister after treating him at St Thomas' Hospital in central London.

While the New Zealand-born Australian fighter was succeeding in the octagon, he admitted he was missing out on key events around him like birthdays, wedding and even funerals.

Images captured during dawn services at war memorials in Melbourne and Wellington on Saturday showed vacant streets and small crowds.

Commemorations moved online this year after restrictions around social gatherings forced the cancellation of traditional ceremonies and dawn services in Australia and New Zealand.

EXCLUSIVE, MIKE BROWN TALKS TO JOE MARCHANT: The campaign between Sir Bill Beuamont and Agustin Pichot has turned into a battle between north and south.

Renee West and her two sons flew from Melbourne to Auckland on Saturday, shortly after finding out her 59-year-old mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Peter Dutton said an arrangement with New Zealand is a logical first step in lifting restrictions before Australia could look at opening up to other nations within the region.

Australian National University infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon believes Australia's suppressed approach has had greater success than NZ's elimination strategy.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has outed herself as an app sceptic, but still plans to push on with a version of Australia's COVIDSafe app in her country.

The probe was launched earlier this month after Professor Brendan Murphy made the suggestion to a New Zealand parliamentary committee.

Twenty-one people died and dozens were injured when the White Island volcano erupted off the coast of New Zealand's North Island on December 9.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had an intimate 'catch up' over the phone with Queen Elizabeth II last night.  

The footage filmed from a beach at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand showed the vessel seemingly suspended above the ocean last week.

Australia and New Zealand's science, research and innovation sectors have banded together in a recently formed strike task force to help governments respond to the pandemic.

Ian McInnes, Council for International Development chair and chief executive of signatories Tearfund, says New Zealand is enjoying a moment of global strength and should use it.

Backstreet Boys have announced plans to reschedule the Australian and New Zealand leg of their DNA World Tour until 2021.

McDonald's stores in New Zealand have announced they are having difficulty sourcing ingredients to make their famous burgers because of coronavirus lockdowns.

Franchisees Rob and Linley Parry, who own the three restaurants in Rotorua, New Zealand , opened on Tuesday after the country eased coronavirus restrictions to level three.

The singer, 24, who is dating Gigi's brother Anwar, 20, spoke about the happy news after the model confirmed she is five months pregnant with her first child.

Iron Maiden have been forced to cancel the Australian and New Zealand leg of their Legacy of the Beast tour.

A radio host in New Zealand fired for breaking coronavirus lockdown restrictions has spoken out. Dave Dunlay (pictured on right with The Breeze cohost and Rick Astley) said he was shocked.

The New Zealand Warriors will fly to Australia on Sunday despite COVID-19 travel bans as the NRL gears up resume in four weeks. 

Australia is edging closer to lifting coronavirus restrictions as four million people download the tracing app.

On their arrival they were placed in 14-day quarantine in a remote corner of the state, and if all goes to plan, they will move closer to Sydney to fulfil their National Rugby League fixtures.

The number of 'confirmed and probable' infections remained at 1,487 after one suspected case 'already known to us' tested positive, New Zealand's health ministry said.

The leaders will discuss a plan to allow travel to resume between the two countries, which is favoured by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. They will also discuss the COVID app.

New Zealand could open its borders to Australian holidaymakers as part of a 'trans-Tasman bubble'.

Proposed changes to health guidelines will be discussed by the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation on May 22.

Jacinda Ardern has shut down New Zealand television host Duncan Garner after he questioned her conservative coronavirus lockdown approach in a heated interview on air.

A semi-clad Cr David Benson-Pope shocked his Dunedin Council colleagues and viewers watching Monday's livestreamed council meeting,.

The number of 'confirmed and probable' infections remained at 1,487 after one suspected case 'already known to us' tested positive on Monday, the health ministry said.