There are seven new Covid-19 community cases in the Bay of Plenty and one in the Lakes district today.
All the Bay cases are in the Tauranga City area and the Lakes case is in Taupō.
One of the Bay cases is linked to a previously reported case, while the other cases are still being investigated for potential links.
Contacts are being identified and will be contacted for testing and isolation advice.
The Taupō case is linked to a previously reported case.
There are 80 new cases in New Zealand with 62 in hospital, including four in ICU.
There are two cases in Tauranga Hospital.
There were 18,527 total vaccine doses administered yesterday, including 2434 first doses and 6849 second doses. To date, 94 per cent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 89 per cent are double-dosed.
There are several new locations of interest for the region. Click here.
Testing for close contacts of a positive case at Rotorua's Malfroy School has been set up at the school today.
The Malfroy School Pandemic Team said they had worked closely with the Ministry of Health and all close contacts had been contacted and advised to have a test.
A pop up testing station at Malfroy School carpark is operating today from 10am to 2pm and is primarily for the close contacts and their families. All others needing a test should go to the testing station in Ward Avenue.
The positive Covid-19 case at Malfroy School was confirmed as a student yesterday.
Parents and caregivers of students who attend the school were asked to keep their children at home after a confirmed case was announced in a social media post by the school on Sunday.
The latest Covid cases numbers are set to be released by the Ministry of Health in a statement around 1pm today.
Rotorua city leaders have mixed emotions about the move to the orange traffic light setting at the end of this month.
Cabinet announced yesterday that the Lakes district would move to orange at 11.59pm on Thursday, December 30. Taupō, Kawerau, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki will also shift to this setting on the same day.
The much-anticipated Auckland border lift will happen at 11.59pm tonight and residents are expected to flee the city in droves, desperate to reconnect with family and friends.
However Aucklanders preparing to leave the city by road tonight can expect the boundary to remain closed until after midnight.
Southbound traffic will be met with closures set to be in place from 10pm to 1am - when the border will officially be removed and traffic allowed through.
Motorists heading into Auckland can also expect delays, with stop/go traffic management in place until at least midnight.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is asking motorists for patience and space to safely dismantle barriers at the boundary checkpoints.
Rotorua Covid-19 Community Testing Centre, Copthorne Hotel, Entrance off Ward Avenue, Rotorua. Open Monday to Sunday. 8.30am to 3pm.
Taupō Covid-19 Community Testing Centre, 79 Miro St, Taupō. Open Monday to Sunday. 8.30am to 3pm.
For Bay of Plenty testing locations click here.
The wishing tree appeal is in its 31st year and the need for it 'has never been greater'.