New Zealand's second outbreak of COVID-19 has claimed its first life.
Alan Te Hiko had spent the past two weeks battling COVID-19 in intensive care at Middlemore Hospital.
A father-of-four, he worked at the Mt Wellington coolstore, Americold, with the man who was the index case of what's now known as the Auckland cluster.
Alan is originally from Tokoroa and had recently returned there to see whanau not knowing he had the virus.
Newshub understands shortly after testing positive, he was admitted to hospital.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashely Bloomfield says he knows Kiwis will be feeling anxious about the news but that "we have always recognised that further deaths linked to COVID-19 were possible."
Te Hiko was in his late 50 and has in recent days managed to video call family from his hospital bed.
Newshub understands other members of Te Hiko's family have contracted the virus.
