Coronavirus: New Zealand has 41 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in the community

New Zealand has another 41 new cases of COVID-19 in the community, says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

That brings the total number of active cases in the community to 148.

38 of the new cases are in Auckland, three are in Wellington.

Of the 148 cases in the cluster, 89 are linked to other community cases identified in the outbreak. The remaining 59 cases are still under investigation.

There are eight people in hospital, no patients are in intensive care.

Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Auckland's lockdown would be extended for another week, reflecting it as the epicentre and growing close contact and places of interest numbers.

The rest of New Zealand will remain at alert level 4 until 11.59pm Friday.

There are currently more than 420 locations of interest, with the latest Auckland locations including supermarkets, takeaway outlets and schools.

The Government is still investigating how the original transmission occurred from the New South Wales returnee who was staying in MIQ at the Crowne Plaza.