Covid restrictions in Auckland won't be relaxed just yet and Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern says alert level 3 "as it stands" will stay in place for another week.
Ardern says schools will not re-open on October 18 and further public health advice will be issued next week. Distanced learning will recommence in term 4
Ardern said she is asking children aged 12 or over to use this week to get vaccinated.
Ardern said New Zealand has surpassed the US and Germany on first doses of the vaccine. Last week half a million doses were administered, and a record number of Maori turned out.
"New Zealand is at one of the trickiest and most challenging moments in the Covid-19 pandemic so far," Jacinda Ardern says.
"However, there is a clear path forward in the coming months in which New Zealanders should be able to move to living with fewer restrictions and more freedoms as a result of higher levels of vaccination."
We've now surpassed the United States, Australia and Germany on first doses, Ardern says.
'But we are not there yet and. over the next few weeks, while we lift those levels of vaccination for everyone, we need to maintain restrictions to stop the virus spreading both in Auckland and to other parts of the country."
The government will decide today if there will be any alert level changes following a spike of cases over the weekend.
Auckland, Northland, and Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngaruawahia and Hamilton City in Waikato are at alert level 3 while the rest of the country is at alert level 2.
Cabinet ministers will also discuss whether teachers will need to be vaccinated.
Jacinda Ardern said earlier today Cabinet has not previously considered a move back to alert level 4, but nothing is being ruled out.
The Cabinet is also expected to decide if Auckland schools should reopen next week and whether they will need new conditions and guidelines for safety precautions such as mask wearing.
However, the government will not be making their decision public until Wednesday.