Labour leader Chris Hipkins has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Prime Minister's office released a statement saying Hipkins has cold and flu symptoms and will isolate for five days or until he returns a negative test.
"He will continue with engagements he can undertake via Zoom," the PM's office said.
Hipkins posted a picture of a positive Rapid Antigen Test to his Instagram page on Sunday, saying he woke up after a "rough night".
"Bugger! After a rough night I woke up this morning feeling pretty unwell and just got this test result," Hipkins wrote on Instagram.
"I’m in close contact with New Zealanders on the campaign trail and I don’t want to pass it on to anyone, so I’ll be following the guidance and isolating for a few days or until I get a negative test.
"I’ll try to keep up as many campaign engagements remotely as I can.
"Thanks to all of Labour's great volunteers and supporters who I know will keep our campaign going in my absence. There’s a lot at stake this election, and I’ll be working doubly hard when I can get back out there to make sure Labour is re-elected."
It comes after it was announced Hipkins would miss a Sunday morning event on a crucial day of campaigning due to sickness.
The Labour leader was due to appear at a Samoan church service in Māngere, south Auckland, but a party spokesperson said his deputy Carmel Sepuloni would step in for him instead.
Appearing at a Labour stand-up on Sunday, Sepuloni said she hadn't had a chance to talk to Hipkins yet.
"I found out when I was in a Samoan church then on my way here, so I'll be picking up the phone and giving him a call. However he did message and said he wasn't feeling great last night and then obviously tested this morning and then it was positive," she said.
Sepuloni said she hadn't been tested today "yet", but is normally testing a few times a week, with the last time a few days ago so "I'll be testing twice a day".
And she wasn't worried the loss of her party leader would be a handbrake on Labour's campaign.
"No, we can't let it," Sepuloni said. "Certainly the Prime Minister has been clear, he'll do as much has he can remotely on Zoom… I'm sure his brain will still be ticking over over the next few days and I can guarantee everyone will be getting instructions and phone calls. We just need to pick up where he's not able to."
National leader Christopher Luxon took to X to wish Hipkins well.
"Will see you back on the campaign trail before too long."
It is a crucial day of campaigning for the party with advanced voting opening tomorrow and Labour trailing in the polls.
The latest Newshub Reid Research Poll showed the right bloc of National-ACT-New Zealand First will have 66 seats - more than enough to form a Government.
