Two mariners off the coast of Taranaki have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently isolating on a vessel at sea, the Ministry of Health says.
The mariners are part of a group of nine who arrived in Auckland on Monday before being transferred onto a deep-sea fishing vessel in New Plymouth.
All nine people returned a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test before travelling to New Zealand.
The ministry says the health risk is deemed as low due to standard infection prevention controls.
"Following these initial negative tests and their arrival in New Zealand, the mariners were tested again at an airport testing site in Auckland prior to transfer to the vessel at Port Taranaki," the ministry says.
"The seven other mariners have since returned negative COVID-19 tests.
"The vessel has now left New Plymouth and is in international waters off the coast of Taranaki. All nine mariners are still onboard and isolating."
The ministry says it's currently reviewing the flight and airport movements of the mariners as part of the contact tracing process.
"Due to the standard infection prevention controls and other precautions taken there is minimal additional risk to any of the contacts during the transfer process," it says.
"At this point, public health staff have identified three contacts who are currently isolating, including two people who work at the port and the driver who transported the mariners from Auckland to New Plymouth."
There are currently no locations of interest.
The ministry adds that health authorities in Taranaki and Auckland will be following up and all three contacts will receive their routine tests while in isolation.
Earlier on Tuesday as part of its regular update, the Ministry of Health announced one new COVID-19 case in managed isolation and none in the community.
