Auckland will remain at level four until 11:59pm, next Tuesday, the 21st of September. The rest of the country remains in level 2.

The Prime Minister said “Cabinet has made an in principle decision that Auckland will at that point, move to a level three.”

“There’s nothing to indicate that there is COVID anywhere outside of Auckland, but there is still reason to be cautious.”

“If COVID were to travel over the Auckland border, the impact of that happening, at a level one environment would be far greater than if a case emerged and a level two environment.“

Jacinda Ardern said “it would mean a far greater chance of spread if it were level one and there would be a far greater chance of a return to lock downs. Nobody wants that and for that reason, Cabinet has agreed that the rest of New Zealand will remain at level two until Tuesday the 21st of September.”

Cabinet will review these sittings, next Monday.

“As we’ve said many times before we can only move down alert levels when we can do so safely and without putting people at risk. And while there is an outbreak in Auckland that continues to produce cases, there is a risk.”

Meanwhile, National’s Economic Development and Small Business spokesperson Todd McClay said the Government’s decision to extend the Level 4 lockdown in Auckland and Level 2 restrictions elsewhere in the country without additional urgent support will be the end of many businesses.

“The number of business casualties expected in the coming weeks is will grow significantly unless the Government does more to protect struggling companies from Covid restrictions.”

 “Levels of distress for operators of bars and restaurants in Auckland especially are extreme, and small businesses around the country are struggling to remain viable under the new, more restrictive Level 2 rules.”

 “It’s one thing for the Government to take a cautious approach to the Delta outbreak but it must be backed up with an equally ambitious approach to stopping business failure,” McClay said.

 “Representatives from the restaurant and hospitality sectors met with the Government late last week and were told there would be no additional, sector-specific regional specific support.” 

“The lack of additional targeted support suggests the Government is okay with the fact that many businesses will go to the wall and that Kiwis will lose their livelihoods.”