The Government has shut the transtasman travel bubble for at least the next eight weeks. PM Jacinda Ardern said she would not risk the hard work put in by the team of 5 million by keeping the bubble open when the risk was high from the Delta variant.
A positive Covid-19 test result has been detected in New Plymouth wastewater, the Ministry of Health says.
"A follow-up sample, taken yesterday, returned a second positive result this evening," the ministry says.
"Based on previous incidences, it is most likely that the two positive wastewater results are due to recentlyrecovered cases continuing to shed the virus."
Health officials are investigating whether any recovered cases who live in the New Plymouth area have recently left a managed isolation facility.
Additionally, it is also possible that other recently recovered cases from elsewhere in the country could have travelled to New Plymouth.
ESR considers a single recovered person shedding the virus may be detected in wastewater.
While the mariners aboard the Playa Zahara and Viking Bay vessels recently docked at Port Taranaki, in New Plymouth, the dates of their brief visits, and the activity of the crew, do not appear to be a factor in these wastewater detections.
"Additional testing is being carried out for a small number of port workers and nurses, who have been in possible contact with the mariners. The nurses have previously been tested for Covid-19 and returned negative test results," the Ministry says.
