Aotearoa / New Zealand

New Zealand is experiencing its highest peak in Covid-19 cases since December 2022, professor Michael Baker says.

Last week, the ministry reported 6146 new cases of the virus and 19 further deaths.

That was a substantial increase on the number of cases reported the previous week - which stood at 3922.

The data came from wastewater testing, Baker said, but hospitalisations were also up.

"We're up to about 35 people a day going to hospital with this infection," he said.