Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield is hopeful that Auckland can still host the much-awaited Bledisloe Cup test scheduled for October 18.
The first match is scheduled to go ahead in Wellington, which is at alert level 1 with the rest of the country apart from Auckland, on October 11.
But the location of the second game is still under a COVID-19 cloud due to Auckland still being at alert level 2 and gatherings restricted to 100. If Auckland doesn't move down a level in time, the test may be moved to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
However, Dr Bloomfield says things are tracking well for the Auckland test to get the go-ahead.
"The decision about the Auckland one [test] is, of course, still pending - depending on that [alert level] decision by Cabinet in just under two weeks on what happens to Auckland," Dr Bloomfield told The AM Show.
"I can't preempt that decision - I'll be giving my advice on it but that will be [the] Cabinet's to make.
"Wellington - all things are moving ahead. We know the tickets go on sale next week," Dr Bloomfield said.
The key thing is that Auckland keeps moving in the right direction, he said.
"[For] Auckland the proposed test is a week later and then, let's hope if we keep doing the things we're doing and keep making progress Auckland will have joined the rest of the country on alert level 1 - that's what we're aiming for."
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is also confident the second test will go ahead in Auckland.
If the Government confirms the drop to alert level 1 in a fortnight, tickets will go on sale.
"We are also making responsible contingency plans, as we have all the way through COVID-19," NZR professional rugby and performance general manager Chris Lendrum said.
"Our preference and intention is to play the match at Eden Park, but if we can't have crowds due to alert levels, we will look to move the match to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin."
There were no new cases of COVID-19 recorded in New Zealand on Tuesday for a second consecutive day.
