New Zealand has recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic as a Delta-variant outbreak that dashed the nation's Covid Zero hopes showed no signs of easing.
Health authorities announced 94 new virus cases, exceeding the previous daily record of 89 set in April last year during the first wave of Covid-19 infections.
While case numbers remain low by most international standards, they have been steadily growing since the highly transmissible Delta variant was first found in New Zealand in mid-August.
The outbreak, centred on Auckland, has forced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to drop her core policy goal of eliminating the virus in favour of ramping up vaccination efforts.