The discovery of Covid-19 in Waikato and increased alert level restrictions has put next weekend's Farah Palmer Cup final in jeopardy.
The final is due to be held in Christchurch on Saturday, but reigning champions Canterbury will take on last year's runners up Waikato, who earned the right to challenge for the title with a convincing win over Wellington in Hamilton.
However, with Hamilton, Raglan and several other Waikato towns moving to alert level three at midnight tonight, Waikato will not be able to travel to Christchurch without an exemption. No travel exemptions were granted to the Auckland-based NPC and Farah Palmer Cup teams in level three.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the alert-level elevation at a hastily arranged 1pm press conference following the discovery of the two Waikato cases - in Raglan and Hamilton East. Both people are known to each other but there is yet to be an established link to the Auckland outbreak.
As 33 new cases were announced today, Ardern said Level 3 would be imposed from 11.59pm in Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton city and Huntly. The alert level would be reviewed in five days.