Health officials are set to release the latest COVID-19 numbers after a record-breaking 12,011 new community cases were revealed on Friday.
Five COVID-related deaths were also recorded and 237 people were in hospital - three in intensive care (ICU).
It comes as police warn anyone thinking of travelling to the Wellington anti-mandate protest over the weekend to "think again".
What you need to know:
- The Ministry of Health reported five COVID deaths and 12,011 new cases on Friday.
- Two of the deaths were in North Shore, one was in Waikato and one in Tauranga.
- Cases in hospital: total number 237 - Northland: 3; North Shore: 42; Middlemore: 83; Auckland: 85; Tauranga: 9; Hawke’s Bay: 1; Capital and Coast: 2; Hutt Valley: 7; Canterbury: 2; Southern: 3.
- Three cases hospitalised are in ICU.
- Location of new community cases (PCR test): Northland (46), Auckland (1,565), Waikato (388), Bay of Plenty (279), Lakes (23), Hawke’s Bay (54), MidCentral (112), Whanganui (13), Taranaki (37), Tairāwhiti (34), Wairarapa (10), Capital and Coast (182), Hutt Valley (85), Nelson Marlborough (79), Canterbury (355), South Canterbury (13), Southern (524), West Coast (6); Unknown (1).
- Location of new community cases (Rapid antigen test): Northland (87), Auckland (6,403), Waikato (544), Bay of Plenty (338), Lakes (140), Hawke’s Bay (40), MidCentral (41), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (11), Tairāwhiti (18), Wairarapa (4), Capital and Coast (77), Hutt Valley (20), Nelson Marlborough (23), Canterbury (114), South Canterbury (5), Southern (343), West Coast (3); Unknown (7).
- The move to Omicron phase 3 happened overnight.
- Anti-mandate protests outside Parliament have entered day 18.
- There are "at least two" positive COVID-19 cases among the Wellington protesters, the Ministry of Health says.
These live updates are now over
6:20pm - Police say they are considering charges after anti-mandate protesters marched across the Auckland Harbour Bridge earlier on Saturday.
"We are pleased that today’s protest was conducted peacefully," a spokesperson says.
However, this was an unlawful action which caused great disruption to Auckland and Police will be now be considering whether any charges are appropriate to be laid against organisers.
"A 40-year-old was charged with dangerous driving after deliberately driving through the cordon on Esmond Road in breach of the Traffic Management Plan."
6:00pm - Police say they are pleased after the number of protesters travelling to Wellington to join the occupation was far fewer than last weekend.
The numbers attending this morning's march through Wellington was also much smaller than anticipated, with approximately 200 people joining the occupation site during the course of the day.
"Police continue to encourage people to stay away, due to the unsanitary nature of the occupation site, the aggressive behaviour of some of the protestors and the increasing lack of control displayed by the protest organisers," a spokesperson says.
"It remains the case that this is not a suitable environment for families and children."
One person was arrested early this afternoon after they attempted to move a bollard with their vehicle on the intersection of Lambton Quay and Mulgrave Street. A number of protesters then attempted to move the same concrete bollard by hand unsuccessfully.
"Paramedics attended to a small number of officers this afternoon who were spat on by protesters at the protest perimeter. This is very disappointing behaviour," the spokesperson adds.
"We are reminding protesters that any vehicles that continue to be parked illegally outside of the protest perimeters are at risk of being towed and seized."
Police will continue to have a highly visible presence at Parliament grounds to reassure local residents, businesses and visitors to Wellington throughout the weekend.
3:00pm - Crowds have gathered at Christchurch's Cranmer Square for another anti-mandate protest.
Local journalist Chris Lynch reports protesters are demanding freedom.
2:00pm - Police have given an update on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which has reopened after protesters walked across it earlier on Saturday.
"Police actively engaged with the protest organisers this morning to deter them from unlawfully crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge," a police spokesperson says
"In order to avoid escalating the situation and thus creating further significant safety risks to the public, Police closely monitored the group as they walked along the two outside lanes of the Harbour Bridge and all southbound lanes were closed in order to manage safety risks.
"The protestors are now gathering in Victoria Park as planned and Auckland Harbour Bridge and motorway are now reopening."
1:35pm - Police are urging Kiwis not to join the "unlawful" protest at Parliament over the weekend.
Read the full police statement below:
Police continue to urge people not to travel to Wellington this weekend if they are thinking of participating in the unlawful protest.
We are aware of a number of protesters planning to join the protest this weekend and urge people to stay away from an occupation site that is no longer a safe environment for families and children.
Police are conducting reassurance patrols at Pipitea Marae and with residents that live within the perimeter of the protest today.
There will continue to be a visible Police presence at the protest and surrounding areas.
The focus for Police is to contain the current perimeters of the protest and continue to maintain a safe community for our Wellington residents.
Any vehicles that arrive and park illegally outside of the protest perimeter may be subject to towing and impounding.
Police will continue to exercise judgement about the application of tactics.
For that reason, we will continue to engage in order to reduce the impact of the protest.
Police are aware of planned protests at other locations across the country today and are continuously monitoring this activity to ensure we are able to deploy staff should they be required to keep everyone safe and reduce any disruption to others.
1:31pm - All southbound lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge have reopened.
Waka Kotahi says the lanes were closed just before midday on the advice of police to manage "the safety risks posed by protestors who unlawfully entered the state highway network on foot"
Motorists are advised that delays remain in the area, and it may take some time for congestion to clear.
1:27pm - COVID-19 vaccine update
Vaccinations administered in New Zealand
- Vaccines administered to date: 4,018,841 first doses; 3,958,058 second doses; 33,324 third primary doses; 2,305,104 booster doses: 236,285 paediatric first doses and 2,702 paediatric second doses
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 445 first doses; 1,167 second doses; 146 third primary doses; 31,217 booster doses; 2,263 paediatric first doses and 285 paediatric second doses
People vaccinated (including those vaccinated overseas)*
- All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,062,314 first dose (96.5%); 3,999,932 second dose (95%), 2,306,762 boosted (69.5% of those eligible)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 518,899 first dose (90.9%); 498,008 second dose (87.2%), 194,470 boosted (58.5% of those eligible)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 280,531 first dose (97.9%); 274,384 second dose (95.7%), 116,338 boosted (56.3% of those eligible)
- 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 236,202 first dose (49.6%); 2,712 second dose (0.6%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 34,530 first dose (29.9%); 441 second dose (0.4%)
- 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 20,520 first dose (41.5%); 371 second dose (0.8%)
*Note, that the number for “people vaccinated” differs slightly from “vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.
Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +)**
- Northland DHB: first dose (90.3%); second dose (87.8%); boosted (68.2%)
- Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (66.4%)
- Waikato DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (65.9%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (66.7%)
- Lakes DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (67.3%)
- MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (72.1%)
- Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.4%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (67.9%)
- Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.4%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (72.7%)
- Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (70.4%)
- Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.1%); boosted (67%)
- Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.7%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.2%)
- Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.7%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (77.2%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (73.9%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.6%)
- West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.3%)
- Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.6%); boosted (71.5%)
- South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (94.1%); boosted (74.5%)
- Southern DHB: first dose (97.9%); second dose (96.6%); boosted (73.9%)
**First and second dose percentages are for those 12+. Booster dose percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible three months after having their second dose.
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: total number 263: Northland: 1; North Shore: 44; Middlemore: 89; Auckland: 92; Tauranga: 8; Taranaki: 3; Waikato: 26
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 54
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 5
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (23 cases / 11.8%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (3 cases / 1.5%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (82 cases / 42.1%); unknown (55 cases / 28.2%)
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases (PCR): 5,078
- Number of new community cases: 13,606
- Number of new community cases (PCR): 2,613
- Number of new community cases (RAT): 10,993
- Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (218), Auckland (9,262), Waikato (1,154), Bay of Plenty (690), Lakes (185), Hawke’s Bay (106), MidCentral (123), Whanganui (28), Taranaki (52), Tairāwhiti (48), Wairarapa (18), Capital and Coast (413), Hutt Valley (130), Nelson Marlborough (176), Canterbury (469), South Canterbury (20), Southern (505), West Coast (3); Unknown (6)
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 6
- Location of origin of border cases: Full travel history not obtained (6)
- Number of active community cases (total): 52,808 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 70,652
* Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.
Tests
- Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 31,016
- PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 28,849
- PCR testing positivity (last 24 hours): 28.38%
- Number of Rapid Antigen Tests stock available in New Zealand: 6.9 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday.)
1:25pm - There are 13,606 new community cases today and 263 people in hospital - five in intensive care (ICU).
12:44pm - The Ministry of Health will reveal the latest COVID numbers at 1pm. It comes after a whopping 12,011 new cases were reported on Friday and five deaths.
12:23pm - Thousands of protesters are walking across the Auckland Harbour Bridge causing traffic chaos and forcing the closure of the bridge.
11:40am - All southbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge are closed as Waka Kotahi attempts to manage the safety risks posed by protestors.
Waka Kotahi said motorists are advised to avoid the area and defer any non-essential travel until further notice.
"The Western Ring Route, on State Highways 16 and 18, remains open for essential travel, but people should expect delays.
"The southbound lanes on the bridge will remain closed until police advise that it is safe for them to re-open."
11:37am - The first New Zealanders returning from Australia without MIQ will arrive in Auckland on Monday. The very first flight is expected to touch down just before 3pm.
11:25am - Police are on high alert as protesters gather on Auckland's North Shore and at Victoria Park before they plan to march across the Harbour Bridge.
Police warned on Friday they will stop anyone who tries to walk across the bridge.
The Freedom and Rights Coalition, linked to Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, released a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying a protest to "march out these mandates" across the Harbour Bridge would go ahead on Saturday.
In a statement to Newshub, a police spokesperson said they "will respond accordingly with the safety of all as our priority".
"Crossing the Harbour Bridge on foot would be unlawful and so police will be working to prevent this as it could be extremely dangerous to those walking on the bridge and to other road users."
A Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson said it had not been contacted by the demonstration's organisers.
"There are no plans to close the bridge to traffic," the spokesperson said.
"NZ Police will lead the response to this demonstration with Waka Kotahi providing support to ensure the safe management of traffic in the area."
The Freedom and Rights Coalition is planning multiple other anti-mandate protests around New Zealand this weekend including in Christchurch, Nelson, Napier and Tauranga.
