Health authorities are investigating a norovirus outbreak linked to an Auckland buffet restaurant after 15 people reported symptoms of gastroenteritis following a visit to the venue earlier this month.
According to a report by Stuff, Dr Li-Wern Yim, Medical Officer of Health for the Northern region of the National Public Health Service (NHPS), confirmed that all 15 affected individuals had dined at the Manukau branch of Valentines on June 12, 2026, before later developing symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis. The illness has since been identified as norovirus.
Among those affected was an Auckland family who visited the restaurant to celebrate a birthday. A mother of two said her eight-year-old child experienced two days of vomiting, while her partner suffered severe symptoms, including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, for nearly a week.
“I've honestly never seen him that sick before,” she said, Stuff has quoted.
She described her partner repeatedly moving between the couch and the bathroom in the days following their meal at the buffet restaurant.
Valentines was inspected by the Auckland Council after reports of the outbreak emerged. However, officials said no food safety breaches were identified during the inspection.
Veronica Lee-Thompson, Auckland Council’s Manager of Specialist Operations Licensing and Compliance, said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) informed the council on June 17 about a suspected gastrointestinal outbreak potentially connected to diners who visited the restaurant on June 12, as reported by Stuff.
“Food Safety Officers from the Council and MPI undertook a joint visit to Valentines on 18 June. The Council Food Safety Officer found no food safety issues during the visit and therefore the restaurant’s food safety grade was not affected,” Lee-Thompson said, Stuff has quoted.
New Zealand Food Safety acting deputy director-general Mike Inglis said authorities were continuing to investigate the situation.
“We are working with the business, Auckland Council and the National Public Health Service to determine the source and put in place any corrective actions as needed,” as quoted by Stuff.
A staff member at the Manukau branch reportedly told Stuff that employees had been informed that “everything is perfectly fine” following the council inspection and that they had not received any communication from the National Public Health Service by Tuesday evening, as reported by Stuff.
The Auckland mother said she initially believed her son had picked up a routine stomach bug.
“When my son first got sick, I automatically assumed, oh, he might just have a tummy bug,” the woman said, Stuff has quoted.
“Then when my partner got sick as well, I'm like, oh, and then I saw a post on Facebook from somebody else that dined at Valentine's that night and got sick as well," Stuff has quoted.
After contacting the NHPS, her partner was advised to submit a stool sample for testing. The results later confirmed norovirus infection.
She said there was “no way” she would return to dine at the restaurant and described the illness as the most severe sickness she had witnessed her partner experience, Stuff has quoted.
“That was horrible…I've been with him twenty years and I've never seen him that sick.
“It was disgusting, he slept on the couch. He was up all night vomiting, diarrhoea, didn't eat for three days. “
According to a report by Stuff, health officials said investigations into the source of the outbreak remain ongoing, while any necessary follow-up actions involving the business will be handled by New Zealand Food Safety and Auckland Council.
Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that typically causes vomiting and diarrhoea. According to the NHPS, symptoms generally develop within one to two days of infection and usually last between two and three days.
“You can catch norovirus by eating contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. You can also catch it by breathing in droplets from a person who has vomited,” as quoted by Stuff.
“People with norovirus are usually infectious until 3 days after symptoms have stopped. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus, it is important to have good hand hygiene. This includes washing hands with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet,” they said.
“If you have norovirus, you should also stay away from work, community gatherings and school or preschool until free of symptoms for 48 hours,” as quoted by Stuff.
Health NZ also recommends avoiding swimming pools for two weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea and advises those experiencing symptoms to rest, stay hydrated and seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen.