While Professor Brendan Murphy remains committed towards getting transmissions down to as low as possible, he believes the ultimate goal of total elimination could be unachievable.

Two hospitals in Burnie, northwest Tasmania, were closed on Monday amid a cluster of more than 60 COVID-19 cases, including about 45 staff, associated with the facilities.

New Zealand is about to head into their fourth week of strict level four restrictions which only allows people to leave their homes for essential services and exercise.

Five deaths and 81 infections are linked to a cluster on Tasmania's north west coast, forcing two hospitals to be shut down and more than 5,000 people including 1,200 hospital staff quarantined.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, ministers in her government and public service chief executives will take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months.

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

Ministers in New Zealand agreed to a 20 per cent cut on Wednesday but Prime Minister Scott Morrison said paycuts were 'not being considered' in Australia.

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.

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

Comedian Laura Daniel has apologised to Jacinda Ardern after baking and decorating a cake depicting the New Zealand prime minister.

The $250,000 vessel was intercepted by New South Wales Police in waters off Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, at 4.30am on Saturday.

Those most at risk from coronavirus will be prioritised on three flights leaving Auckland and two from Christchurch, British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke (pictured), said.

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

The gang member was being driven by an associate when they were stopped by police in a suburban street in New Zealand 's Northland last week.

The female nurse, who did not want to be named, copped a ticket while driving a branded vehicle in her work uniform on Gordonton Rd in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Tuesday morning.

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

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

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 footage was shot in Waiheke in New Zealand on Wednesday showing NZ Post couriers throwing mail packages from a van to a truck.

Tasmanian opposition leader Rebecca White has welcomed an apology from Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy to medical staff in Tasmania after he claimed they held an illegal dinner party.

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.

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

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

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 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.

The 'bubble' will be discussed at a national cabinet meeting of Australian leaders and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday.

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

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will on Tuesday reveal the Australian economy is losing $4billion every week the government shutdown to slow the spread of the virus stays in place.

Russell Crowe revealed this week that he almost turned down a role that later won him an Oscar. 

Good Omens writer Neil Gaiman has split from wife Amanda Palmer after nine years of marriage.

South Australia's top doctor has raised concerns about the reopening of interstate tourism, warning travellers from interstate pose the biggest risk for a second wave of outbreaks.

The two neighbours have closed their borders to all non-citizens for more than a month and imposed mandatory quarantines on anyone returning home from overseas to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Reopening the borders will be the lifeline for New Zealand as it faces a devastating economic crisis after sacrificing NZ$12.1 billion to support its citizens during the pandemic.

Coronavirus has made Australians reassess their taste in luxury goods and opt for the simpler things in life, a Boston Consulting Group survey of 1,000 consumers has found.

Kat Buchanan, 33, and her fiancee Taryn Cumming, 31, live in Auckland, New Zealand with five cats. They knew they wanted children from the beginning of their two-year relationship.

Prime Minister Theresa May seems to be managing her type 1 diabetes well, in part due to new wearable technology in the form of glucose-tracking body sensors

James' last shot was a 32-footer with 16 seconds left, capping the 13th 50-point game of his career - including playoffs - and he threw the ball skyward at midcourt when time expired.

LeBron James and Kylian Mbappe play different sports on different sides of the world. But they nevertheless have much in common. The two sporting superstars sat down for an insightful discussion.

Joel Embiid scored 28 points, Jimmy Butler added 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers led throughout in a 121-105 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

LeBron James has missed 17 of the last 18 games with injury and the team have struggled as a result, posting a 27-27 record. On Tuesday night, they lost by 42 points at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

James and Antetokounmpo won the most votes from each conference, making them the players who will choose the teams for the February 17 game in Charlotte.

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have selected their teams for the NBA All-Star game with the Los Angeles Lakers icon picking a number of stars who could join him next season.

LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony were all sitting courtside in Brooklyn on Wednesday night to watch Miami's game against the Nets.

Zion Williamson. Two words eagerly anticipated in the NBA next season. He is expected to take the NBA by storm to the extent that LeBron James did when he was drafted No 1 in 2003.