Finance Minister Grant Robertson says $1.5 billion has been paid out to more than 240,000 workers as part of the government's Wage Subsidy scheme. The scheme was set up by the government to support workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The $1.5b has gone to 244,887 workers; 72,913 applications have been paid out; 111,898 applications have been approved and about to be paid out, and 47,434 are to be processed. (full story)