By Farah Hancock of RNZ Thousands of people who have recovered from Covid-19 are still being counted as active cases because updating data is an “administrative burden” on public health units.The Ministry of Health website says…

Different trams are being tested on Sydney's Inner West light rail line as a solution for the current shutdown.

The Sydney CBD trams are being tested between Central and Paddy's Markets on the L1 Dulwich Hill line and could be used as a permanent replacement while the Inner West line is out of commission due to maintenance.

"Over the next couple of days we'll be testing the Citadis trams across the entirety of the Inner West light rail line to see if we can restore service as quickly as possible," Transport Minister Rob Stokes said.

READ MORE: UK tightens COVID-19 rules amid Omicron surge

The CBD George Street trams are different widths to the Inner West trams, which means the wheels on the new trams need to be replaced to fit the wider line.

"These are slightly narrower trams, they can obviously run on the tracks but they do so at a lower speed," Mr Stokes said.

The CBD trams are able to run on the Inner West line because they return to Lilyfield for maintenance.

READ MORE: Inside Operation Ironside's 'Phase Two' against organised crime

Investigations are underway to see if the trams can run safely to the end of the line at Dulwich Hill.

"One of the things we're particularly looking at is the speed at which these trams can run," Mr Stokes said.

Thousands of commuters are currently using replacement buses on the Inner West line between Central Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill after cracks were found in the tram fleet.

READ MORE: Chinese rover spots 'mystery house' on the moon

Mr Stokes said last month that the repairs could take up to 18 months.

"It's simply too early to speculate on how soon we can return a service," Mr Stokes said.

The replacement bus services have frustrated commuters who said their trips are now much longer.

"What used to take a 20-minute ride now takes like an hour," one commuter said.

"It's been a bit of a nightmare."

It comes as documents show the replacement buses are costing taxpayers up to $90,000 a day.

Over the next 18 months of the predicted shutdown, it will add up to close to $50 million.

The Government has delayed the next stage of its controversial Three Waters reforms until next year.Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta wants to amalgamate the water services of 67 councils into four regional water entitles…

Saudi authorities have conducted their biggest-ever crackdown on camel beauty contestants that received Botox injections and other artificial touch-ups, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday, with over 40 camels disqualified from an annual pageant.

Saudi Arabia's popular King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which kicked off earlier this month, invites the breeders of the most beautiful camels to compete for some $92 million in prize money.

Botox injections, face lifts and other cosmetic alterations to make the camels more attractive are strictly prohibited. Jurors decide the winner based on the shape of the camels' heads, necks, humps, dress and postures.

READ MORE: UK tightens COVID-19 rules amid Omicron surge

Judges at the monthlong festival in the desert northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, are escalating their clamp down on artificially enhanced camels, the official news agency reported, using "specialised and advanced" technology to detect tampering.

This year, authorities discovered dozens of breeders had stretched out the lips and noses of camels, used hormones to boost the beasts' muscles, injected camels' heads and lips with Botox to make them bigger, inflated body parts with rubber bands and used fillers to relax their faces.

"The club is keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," the SPA report said, adding organisers would "impose strict penalties on manipulators."

The camel beauty contest is at the heart of the massive carnival, which also features camel races, sales and other festivities typically showcasing thousands of dromedaries. The extravaganza seeks to preserve the camel's role in the kingdom's Bedouin tradition and heritage, even as the oil-rich country ploughs ahead with modernising mega-projects.

Camel breeding is a multimillion-dollar industry and similar events take place across the region.

Police and the Ministry of Health have confirmed they are investigating the actions of a registered GP who was filmed handing out illegitimate medical certificates as exemptions for the vaccine.Dr Jonie Girouard, who runs a weight-loss…

Act leader David Seymour has spoken about how believing a Jacinda Ardern announcement led him to rack up a $3000 bill.The AM Show host Ryan Bridge asked the Act leader on Tuesday what his biggest mistake of the year had been.It…

Celebrations will go ahead for New Year's Eve in Sydney this year despite the resurgence of COVID-19.

Fireworks for children and families at 9pm as well as the renowned midnight event will go ahead.

Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said the city is preparing for people to come into the city for New Year's Eve, pending restrictions changing due to COVID-19.

READ MORE: UK tightens COVID-19 rules amid Omicron surge

Here is what we know about New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney this year.

Are you allowed to attend New Year's Eve celebrations?

Sydney officials are encouraging people to attend New Year's Eve celebrations this year, even saying to "make a night of it".

"We would love people to make a night of it, come in and stay in a hotel, go to a bar, enjoy a meal and watch the fireworks," Ms Moore said.

Currently, crowds will be allowed to attend but Ms Moore warned circumstances could change.

"What wouldn't be a definite is if circumstances change and if people can't come in," she said.

"At the moment we're planning for people to come in."

Ms Moore encouraged people to attend the city for the evening after the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality industry.

"The hospitality industry, our bars and restaurants and performers have really suffered during COVID-19," she said.

"Book into a restaurant to start the evening, support businesses who've been doing it tough they need your support."

Sydney's New Year's Eve vantage points will be open this year, however, they will be ticketed.

Tickets are free and are already available.

READ MORE: Inside Operation Ironside's 'Phase Two' against organised crime

Will the fireworks go ahead?

Yes, they will.

The fireworks at 9pm for children and families will go ahead this year, after being cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions last year.

The Welcome to Country display at 9pm will welcome everyone to Gadigal land.

This will be curated by Sydney-based artist Blak Douglas.

The famed midnight fireworks will also go ahead and organisers said the theme will be a "celebration we've been able to make it through COVID-19".

The fireworks are tipped to feature some different effects this year.

"Lots of pastel colours, ochre colours, mushroom shapes, fireworks in the shape of cubes which will three dimensional, a lot of different effects on the opera house as well as the harbour bridge," Fortunato Foti, organiser of the fireworks display, said.

There will also be double the number of fireworks on display over the Sydney Opera House this year.

Mr Foti also said there will be a different soundtrack "to what we're used to" this year.

READ MORE: Chinese rover spots 'mystery house' on the moon

What are the current restrictions?

Fully vaccinated NSW residents are able to attend outdoor gatherings with no limit on numbers.

For events with more than 1000 people such as New Year's Eve, a COVID-19 safety plan will need to be in place.

If you plan to go to a hospitality venue like a bar, restaurant or nightclub, you will need to be fully vaccinated.

You are able to sing, dance and drink standing up.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you won't be able to attend hospitality venues on New Year's Eve.

Do I need to be fully vaccinated?

Organisers said each vantage point may require you to be vaccinated.

"While COVID-19 vaccination requirements are not specified in the terms and conditions for sites managed by the City of Sydney, we may need to make changes to reflect the latest public health updates or best practice," organisers said.

Under current restrictions, fully vaccinated people are able to attend outdoor gatherings with no limit on numbers.

Western Australia's rigid border restrictions have prevented grieving Melbourne parents from flying to Perth to bring their son's body home.

Katie and Steve Grace say the pain of not being able to enter the state where their son died has only worsened their grief.

Their son, talented rugby player Jordan Grace, was on a contract to play in Perth when he took his own life last month – two days before his 21st birthday.

READ MORE: Northern Territory announces changes to border rules ahead of Christmas reopening

They were notified when a police officer went to their Williamstown home in Melbourne's west.

Ms Grace said the first thing the parents wanted to do was to get to Perth to be with their son.

"I just wanted to get to him. It was my baby," she said.

The Graces applied for an exemption to enter Western Australia due to the state's strict COVID-19 restrictions.

However, they were told they would have to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks upon arriving in the state.

With other children at home, the Graces couldn't contemplate leaving them and going into lockdown.

"So (WA authorities) then said well if you don't want to hotel quarantine we will just deny you entry," Ms Grace said.

"We weren't going there for a holiday.

"We just wanted to go see our boy pack up his things and come home and bring him home with us."

Mr Grace said it had been a tough three weeks for the family.

"We just want closure so that we can start celebrating our son and move on," he said.

Considering they are both fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the family believe they should have been shown some grace by Western Australian authorities.

Ms Grace said the border restrictions were causing pain for more than just them.

"If anyone had half a heart they wouldn't let another person suffer the way not only we have but countless other people."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today said he could understand that the parents' pain had been made "much worse" by the border restrictions.

"That would be so very difficult to deal with," he said.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he was "sympathetic to all these cases" but defended the decision to refuse entry.

"The police manage this according to pretty strict protocols," he said.

"We don't want to end up in the situation New South Wales and Victoria ended up."

The Graces have now laid Jordan to rest, but are still desperate for borders to open so they can get to Perth and retrace his last steps.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.

Concerns about pockets of low vaccination rates and active Covid-19 cases stopped the South Island, Wellington, and two regions from entering the traffic light system at green.The Herald yesterday revealed public health officials…

Auckland Transport is pursuing the idea of removing parking spaces off the road without consulting residents – a plan called “bloody arrogant” by mayor Phil Goff.AT has today released a Parking in Auckland discussion document that…