Covid-19: new positive case is flight attendant who visited Auckland supermarket
Auckland Reporters:
A flight attendant who visited an Auckland supermarket has tested positive for Covid-19.
Fourteen other air crew are being contacted and asked to isolate and re-test, the Ministry of Health said.
It is not ruling out local transmission of the virus in Auckland, but says the risk to the public is low.
The woman who tested positive has been moved to Jet Park quarantine facility.
“The Public Health initial assessment is there is low risk to the public due to Auckland being at Alert Level 3 for the period in which this case was back in New Zealand and were either in isolation or at home for most of that time,” the ministry said in a Sunday evening release.
“There is currently one location of interest – the Auckland Airport Countdown on March 3 between 12.07pm and 1.22pm.”
“Anyone who was at the store at this time is asked to monitor their health for the next 10 days (until March 17)."
Contact tracers are also in the process of tracking down people who were at an unnamed clinic at the same time as the woman during a health appointment on an unspecified date.
“All those attending the same clinic at the same time are being identified and will be contacted and provided specific health advice.”
Genome sequencing results are expected on Tuesday.
The woman's three household family members were tested on Sunday, and they are all negative, the ministry said.
She returned to New Zealand from Japan on February 28, and returned a negative Covid-19 result then, the Health Ministry said.
She returned a subsequent positive test result on Sunday after a swab taken on Saturday as part of routine surveillance testing, the Ministry said.
People who were at the Auckland Airport Countdown on Wednesday between 12.07pm and 1.22pm are not being asked to isolate.
“If they feel unwell or develop symptoms, they should contact Healthline on 0800 358 5454, and get tested and stay at home until a negative test result is received.”
“Testing is available at six community testing centres (CTCs) throughout Auckland as well as at general practices and urgent care clinics.”
“There is currently good capacity in the testing system, and the CTCs in Otara (South Auckland) and Wiri (West Auckland) have additional staff available to meet any increase in demand.”
Testing locations are available on the Auckland Regional Public Health Service website.
The ministry said it would provide a further update on Monday.
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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83.1% Same!
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16.9% Would have liked to try something different
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.3% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.7% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.
The Manukau Court’s Ruling
The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.
In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.
While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026
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