The Ministry of Health has detected the highly mutated COVID-19 Omicron variant BA.2.86 - known as Pirola - in New Zealand wastewater.
However, the detection of the variant has not changed the risk to people in New Zealand, the ministry said in a statement.
"The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has detected the COVID-19 subvariant BA.2.86 in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time in wastewater samples taken earlier this month," it said. "The subvariant was first detected in late July in Denmark and Israel, and cases have been slowly increasing globally. It has not yet been detected in New Zealand in any people hospitalised with COVID-19."
BA.2.86 had over 35 mutations, fewer than XBB.1.5 - the main variant spreading through most of last year.
Michael Baker, an epidemiologist from the University of Otago, said last week BA.2.86 was causing a "great deal of concern globally and it's because it's so mutated".
However, he said the variant wasn't yet demonstrating significantly different abilities.
"Preliminary evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand remain effective against BA.2.86," the Ministry of Health said.
"The detection of BA.2.86 is a good reminder that COVID-19 has not gone away so please continue to test if you're symptomatic and stay home if you're sick."
Health authorities hadn't noted an uptick in New Zealand COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, with Monday's seven-day rolling average down by more than 400 on the previous week.
