Coronavirus: Auckland and Waikato to move to step 2 of alert level 3, while NZ to remain at alert level 2

The Prime Minister has revealed Auckland and parts of Waikato (Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton city, Huntly, Te Kuiti, Waipa, Ōtorohanga, Te Awamutu, Karapiro and Cambridge) will remain at alert level 3 but will move to step two to allow more retail to open.

Waikato will see an easing of restrictions tomorrow at 11.59pm as it moves to step 2.

While Auckland will "step down" at 11.59pm on Tuesday 9 November.

That will mean retail and public facilities can re-open and the number of people who could meet outside increase to 25.

Jacinda Ardern said the move to step two next week would remove "some of the pressure and fatigue that we know exists in Auckland". 

The rest of New Zealand will remain at alert level 2.

Ardern previously promised a three-step plan to end Covid restrictions in Auckland.

Prior to moving to the traffic light system, Cabinet would still be looking at the "step downs" before hitting the 90 per cent vaccination target.

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The final step would be similar to what is currently known as "delta level 2".

Cabinet met this afternoon to decide on any alert level changes, as Auckland entered its 12th week in lockdown and 162 new cases were reported today.

The total number of cases in this community outbreak is 3,510.

For more information visit covid19.govt.nz.