Coronavirus in NZ: Jacinda Ardern seeks advice on March 15 memorial, Pasifika Festival

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is seeking advice on whether the March 15 terror attack memorial service and Auckland's Pasifika Festival should go ahead this weekend amid coronavirus fears.

But she downplayed suggestions that the events would be cancelled.

Ardern told media she expected to get specific advice today from the Ministry of Health and the Director General of Health about managing the two large events.

Ardern is set to open the Pasifika Festival in Auckland on Saturday and speak at the memorial service in Hagley Park on Sunday to commemorate the first anniversary of the terror attacks on the Al Noor and Linwood mosques.

Opposition leader Simon Bridges is also set to go to both events.

Organisers of the Pasifika Festival today told the Herald they were still "all go" and are following advice and recommendations from the Ministry of Health.

Ardern said today she asked for the advice about the two large events to "reassure" herself.

"New Zealand does not have community outbreak at this point. We have cases that are identified where we've been able to do contact tracing," Arden said.

"So we're not at the point where other governments we've seen around the world have cancelled large scale events.

"However I do want to assure myself that we're in the right position from a public health perspective so I have asked for more advice."

When asked whether that could mean the memorial service might be cancelled, Ardern replied with a firm "no".

Ardern said there also aren't any restrictions on either event at this stage because there were already requirements on people who'd travelled from areas identified as hotpots for Covid-19.

Opposition leader Simon Bridges said as long as the Government was seeking the "best advice that they can" they wouldn't be that critical of any decision.

"That's not the sort of thing that we would lightly be critical of, either way, providing they are working on the best expert advice."

Today, a Pasifika spokesperson said they were still "all go" at this stage for this weekend.

"We are following advice and recommendations from the Ministry of Health."

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Ramon Pink told Radio New Zealand this morning there were no plans to cancel the Sunday service.

Today, a Pasifika spokesperson said they were still "all go" at this stage for this weekend.

"We are following advice and recommendations from the Ministry of Health."

The festival was cancelled last year because police had to prioritise resourcing to ensure public safety after the Christchurch shootings.

New Plymouth festival World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) is also set to go ahead as planned this week, its organisers said.

The festival is working with local, provincial and national agencies and will continue to monitor the situation and updates closely, they said.

"Safety of our festival audience is the top priority.

"The Ministry of Health does not propose altering arrangements for public events nationwide, with large- and small-scale international events in the music, arts and sports sectors all proceeding as programmed."