Helicopters have been dispatched to tame an out-of-control burn-off in North Canterbury.About five helicopters were spotted by a passerby with monsoon buckets used to dampen down a large fire about 10 minutes past the Hanmer Springs…

Experts say Auckland should stay at alert level 3 until the city hits a vaccination rate of 90 per cent, as New Zealand’s effort to eliminate Delta suffers a blow with new cases spilling into the Waikato.Te Pūnaha Matatini…

Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 are being given the chance to win $1 million thanks to a new campaign dedicated to accelerating the country's vaccination rates.

The Million Dollar Vax campaign will give away a total of $4.1 million worth of prizes to people vaccinated against the virus in the next four and a half weeks.

It will award $1000 gift cards to entrants daily on top of the ultimate $1 million prize, which will be given away on 5 November.

READ MORE: Nurses urge Victorians to get vaccinated, state records 1220 new COVID-19 cases

The campaign is the work of the Million Dollar Vax Alliance, a collaboration of philanthropists and corporations who want to drive vaccination rates above 80 per cent nationally as quickly as possible.

"The faster we reach higher vaccination rates nationally, higher than 80 per cent, the sooner we all can safely resume our full range of community and business activity," Craig Winkler of the Million Dollar Vax Alliance said.

Jack Heath, Philanthropy Australia chief executive, said the campaign would help save lives and ease the burden on healthcare workers.

The Million Dollar Vax has been inspired by the Ohio 'Vax-A-Million' campaign in the United States, which is estimated to have saved more than $60 million in averted healthcare costs and contributed to an increase in vaccine take-up.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today said he thought the campaign was great.

"I'm not fussed about what motivates you – whether it is for your health and to help the people you love, to protect our health system and our nurses or to win $1 million," he said.

"Just go and get vaccinated."

All Australians aged 18 and over are eligible to enter the draw, with those already vaccinated still eligible to win, provided both vaccinations have been received by six weeks after October 31, 2021.

Businesses will be forced to take "reasonable" measures to stop unvaccinated people entering under new public health advice that will take effect from October 11.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said COVID-19 would continue to circulate in the community once NSW reached the 70 per cent double dose vaccination target.

"We are closing-in on the 70 per cent double dose mark and when we achieve it there will be significant changes to our public health advice," he said.

READ MORE: 'I feel so sad': Brad Hazzard's emotional farewell to premier during COVID update

"The key difference will be how that advice is applied to people who are vaccinated and to those who are not."

"Vaccination will provide greater freedoms as our society opens up and it reduces the risk of you spreading the virus to someone vulnerable, which could cost them their life.

Mr Hazzard said it was vital everyone followed the new public health advice that would be in place from 11 October.

Here's a rundown on what the public health advice will involve.

For the general community

• Everyone – vaccinated or not – will be urged to get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 and to immediately self-isolate until a negative result is received
• Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 – vaccinated or not – will have to self-isolate for 14 days
• Close contacts in the community will include household members of positive cases and close social contacts of positive cases, such as partners and friends, who the person with the virus spent time in close proximity with, even if fully vaccinated. Anyone may also be assessed as a being a close contact following a risk assessment, including at workplaces, high-risk settings, such as healthcare and aged care, and other specific settings such as schools and child care centres, or where an outbreak has been identified
• Close contacts of a positive case who are vaccinated will have to get tested and self-isolate for seven days. On day six after exposure, the person will have to get tested again. If a negative result is received and they are well, they can end isolation after day seven. For the following seven days the person must work from home where practicable, not attend hospitality settings, and not attend a high-risk settings even if it is their place of work

• Close contacts of a positive case who are not vaccinated will have to get tested and immediately self-isolate for 14 days. On day 12, they should get tested again. If a negative result is received, they can end isolation after day 14
• The Service NSW QR code check-in system will remain in place in the general community. This system will be used to notify people who were in the same venue as a positive case. People will be asked to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they become unwell
• People aged 16 years and over will only be allowed entry into some venues or settings if fully vaccinated, along with people with exemptions. In some venues, children under 16 will have to be accompanied by a fully vaccinated member of their household to enter. This includes hospitality venues, non-critical retail stores, personal services, sporting, recreation and entertainment facilities and events. Critical retail such as supermarkets and pharmacies will still be accessible to those not fully vaccinated

READ MORE: Casino enters new lockdown after COVID-19 case

For businesses

• If a staff member tests positive, whether they are vaccinated or not, they will have to self-isolate for 14 days and follow the advice from NSW Health. Businesses will refer to their COVID-19 Safety Plan and risk assessment approach for further instructions on notifying other staff
• Businesses will have to inform NSW Health if three or more employees test positive for COVID-19 in a seven-day period
• NSW Health guidelines will enable businesses to assess workplace risk if a COVID-19 case is identified and confirm actions to be taken
• Businesses will be able to reduce the risk of closure or staff going into isolation by implementing rigorous COVID-19 Safety Plans. Other proactive steps businesses could include ensuring staff are vaccinated and implementing regular onsite testing programs for workers

On vaccination compliance and obligations

• Businesses will be responsible for taking reasonable measures to stop unvaccinated people entering premises. For example, having prominent signs stating requirements, Service NSW QR codes, staff checking vaccination status upon entry and only accepting valid forms of evidence of vaccination
• Authorised officers will monitor businesses re-opening, particularly those with vaccination requirements, for example hospitality, retail, gyms, and personal services (e.g. hair, beauty)
• Penalties may apply for individuals and businesses who don't comply. On the spot fines of $1000 may apply to individuals for not complying, or for using fraudulent evidence of vaccination or check-in. On the spot fines of $5000 may apply to businesses for not complying with the Public Health Order vaccination requirements. Further penalties may apply for significant breaches.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the advice was likely to be updated as case numbers and evidence changed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has hit out at Brian Tamaki and those who attended a mass anti-lockdown protest at Auckland War memorial Museum on Saturday, labelling their actions “morally wrong”.As many as 2000 anti-lockdown protesters…

New South Wales MP Andrew Constance has announced he will resign from state politics in a bid to run for the federal seat of Gilmore on the state's South Coast.

Mr Constance is currently the member for Bega and the Minister for Transport, and has confirmed he will not contest the leadership position left vacated by former Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Speaking on the NSW South Coast, Mr Constance said he will nominate for preselection for the seat of Gilmore, due to be contested next year.

READ MORE: NSW registers huge drop in cases as leaders praise the work ethic of resigned former Premier Gladys Berejiklian

He will remain the member for Bega until the end of the year.

Mr Constance also praised Ms Berejiklian, saying he is "heartbroken" following her resignation on Friday.

"Like so many of us, I am heartbroken for my long-time friend Gladys Berejiklian. By retiring from State Cabinet and NSW Parliament, I will provide an incoming leader the opportunity to fill this position," Mr Constance said.

"Gladys has been an amazing leader on both a personal and broader community level. Her care and support during Black Summer, in which we worked so closely together, is something that is very dear to my heart.

"Gladys is one of the best Premiers we have ever seen. I hope she bounces back as strongly as possible, because I know we have not seen the end of her yet."

READ MORE: The contenders to be the next NSW Premier

He said his immediate focus was helping his community recover from the current COVID-19 lockdown.

"I love our region, its people and I could not be more proud to continue to serve. From Black Summer to the pandemic, we are the strongest and most resilient communities that you will ever see," he said.

"It has been the greatest honour serving you in NSW Parliament for almost twenty years and I plan to continue my work on a federal level."

Gilmore was considered a traditional Liberal seat, but is currently held by Fiona Phillips of Labor, who beat the Liberal Party's Warren Mundine in 2019.

The next federal election is due to be contested in 2022, with the Prime Minister yet to set an exact date.

Forecasters are picking the potential for more “marine heatwaves” and unseasonably warm conditions later this year, which is tracking among the country’s hottest ever seen.Niwa’s climate outlook for the last three months of 2021…

Hamilton city, Huntly, Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia will go into alert level 3 for five days from 11.59pm tonight.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the region going into level 3 will allow health officials to do widespread…

As clocks around Australia tick forward an hour to mark daily light savings time, there are some places around the world where the sun never fully shines.