Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told CNN he's "mystified" by Donald Trump's claim New Zealand is experiencing a "big surge" of COVID-19.
His comments came after a series of digs from the US President about New Zealand's coronavirus resurgence over the last few days, in which he described our single-digit case numbers as a "massive breakout".
In an interview with US TV network CNN about the recent outbreak in Auckland, Goff laughed off Trump's comments and said he was confident that the virus here was being contained.
"I have to say we were somewhat mystified - as we often are - by President Trump's comments," he told host Zain Asher.
"On the day that our cases went up by nine, I think the United States cases went up by 42,000, very sadly.
"I think the United States... when we adjust the population, the fatality rates are 50 to 100 times more per head of population than in New Zealand."
"I think the important lesson for New Zealand is that overwhelmingly the community came together and said look, working together we can beat this virus - and we did."
The Ministry of Health confirmed six new cases in New Zealand on Thursday, while the US reported 46,500.
The death toll in the US has totalled 172,416.
