The Māori Authority is calling for community readiness after another airport worker was confirmed as having Omicron.
There are now six people with the variant after an Omicron positive person spent two days in Palmerston North, while potentially infectious.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health also revealed five Air NZ flights as locations of interest. Genome sequencing results are also expected today for nine COVID-19 cases in the South Island town of Motueka.
National Māori Authority chair Matthew Tukaki says Omicron is obviously now in the community and it's time for Kiwis to prepare.
Tukaki also made an impassioned plea for people to get tested if they have been in or near a location of interest and for whanau to prepare themselves for potential periods of self-isolation.
"Given today we are waiting for the genome sequencing and testing of some of the cases and close contacts identified in the last 24 hours, the time between Omicron having arrived and in the community is now over," he said.
"At this point it comes down to preparedness and making sure each and every New Zealander has their own plan in place."
Tukaki said he's particularly concerned for the regions and provinces with high Māori populations, such as Northland and the East Coast of the North Island.
"One of the key challenges will be to ensure that we also match what will be an ongoing health response with a social services approach – one that Māori and Pacific organisations have been leading in the Auckland outbreak of Delta.
"That will mean they themselves have the support and resources they need to care and support whanau who might be in for long periods of home isolation."
He also expressed concern about whether or not the Ministry of Social Development's systems will be able to withstand the demand if cases lift into the thousands:
"Keep in mind we are dealing not just with individual cases – because when it takes hold in a home the rates of infection will go through it like a bushfire.
"My message to whānau is be prepared – have your checklists in place and know where to get support from if and should you need it."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said the entire country will move to the red traffic light setting once Omicron is spreading in the community.
"It is important to remember that red does not mean lockdowns or regional boundaries, and businesses remain open," Ardern noted.
"What it does mean is immediately increasing our use of masks, changing the way we interact in hospitality and reducing gathering sizes in order to slow Omicron down."
Ardern said planning was "well advanced" for an Omicron outbreak, with new case management, close contact definition and testing rules fit for purpose for Omicron being finalised, as well as plans to support the business continuity.
There were 43 new community COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 41 at the border.
