Three further Omicron cases have been detected at New Zealand's border, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The cases arrived in Auckland from Dubai last Saturday and were transported to a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility in Rotorua.
One of the cases had travelled to Dubai from London, another to Dubai from Spain and the third to Dubai from Nigeria, with all three then boarding the same flight to Auckland.
Whole genome sequencing shows the cases are not linked to the first Omicron case reported on Thursday, the ministry says.
"After testing positive, the cases were moved to the Jet Park Quarantine facility in Auckland where they are currently isolating," a ministry statement reads.
"As a precautionary measure, all passengers on the flights with the case are required to complete all ten days at a managed isolation facility - rather than spending the last three days of their isolation period in self-isolation."
The ministry says the arrival of more Omicron cases is not surprising given the variant's rapid spread internationally.
"Our health and MIQ teams around the country have been planning for Omicron cases at the border, and will continue to manage all arrivals cautiously," the statement continued.
"Our border settings means we are well placed to manage Omicron cases with isolation and testing requirements for all new arrivals, robust infection and prevention control and PPE measures at airports and MIQ facilities, and frequent surveillance testing of staff who have any contact with recent international returnees."
More details will be released in a media statement at 1pm on Saturday.
