The Ministry of Health admits it mistakenly named Pakuranga College as a school affected by Auckland's COVID-19 cluster and there isn't in fact an infection linked to it.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told reporters on Friday that one of New Zealand's 13 new cases of COVID-19 was linked to the college, but the school said that was the first it had heard of the case.
"ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD ANNOUNCEMENT: This is the first we have heard of this! The principal is currently on the phone to the Minister of Health demanding answers," a post on the college's Facebook page said.
"We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information."
In a later Facebook post, however, the school confirmed there were no cases linked to the school.
"The Ministry of Education with the Ministry of Health have advised that we have NO cases of COVID-19 at Pakuranga College."
Asked about the matter at the news briefing, Minister of Health Chris Hipkins couldn't say when they were notified of the case and said the school should have been told.
Both Hipkins and Dr Bloomfield said they'd look into the matter.
"I haven't got the school by school breakdown of when each school was notified - [I'm] happy to release that information," Hipkins told reporters.
"They [Pakuranga] should have been notified so I'll double-check that. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health are working very very closely together in Auckland.
"I'd need to just go back and check that."
National MP Simeon Brown said on Twitter he'd spoken with the school's principal confirming there was no case linked to it.
"This is an awful mistake and has caused significant concern in the Pakuranga community," Brown wrote.
In a statement later on Friday, the Ministry of Health confirmed it had incorrectly named the college as an affected school.
"While there is a casual link, the Ministry is awaiting further test results and at this point no additional public health action is required from the school.
"The Ministry apologises for putting information in the public domain without first notifying the school."
Meanwhile, two of Friday's new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Tokoroa - but are linked to the Auckland cluster.
Thirty-eight people linked to that cluster are now in a quarantine facility.
Dr Bloomfield said work is already underway to contain the Tokoroa cases.
More than 15,000 tests were processed on Thursday - a record for New Zealand.
"Demand has been high at the dedicated testing centres across Auckland and we again thank people for their patience," the Ministry of Health said.
"There are 16 testing stations around Auckland, people can also get testing at their GPs. Anyone who is symptomatic should please phone ahead."
