Three people in New Plymouth have tested positive for Covid-19.
In a post to Facebook, the Taranaki District Health Board said the trio, one adult and two children, are all part of the same household.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the family have a known link to a case in Rotorua.
"Our Public Health Unit is already conducting interviews and getting contact tracing under way," the DHB said.
The DHB is urging locals with cold or flu-like symptoms to get tested, even if they are mild.
People who have also travelled outside the region recently or are a close contact of a positive case are being asked to get tested.
Any locations of interest will be identified and published on the Ministry of Health website as soon as they are known.
Three schools in the city are closed on Friday as a result.
West End Te Kura Ō Mōrere said on Facebook that the school was closed as a precaution after a person at nearby Devon Intermediate tested positive, while Marfell Community School also told parents on Thursday night it would be closed today due to a positive case.
On Thursday 172 new community cases were announced - 142 in Auckland and 10 in the Nelson-Tasman region.
"There continues to be a daily review of testing numbers and testing locations to ensure good coverage of risk areas," the Ministry of Health said.
New Plymouth is in the orange stage of the traffic light system.
Taranaki has reached the 90 per cent goal for first doses while 82 per cent are fully vaccinated.
A new case has also been recorded in Whitianga. The person is isolating.
It is understood to be an isolated case with a low risk of community spread.
One location of Interest in New Plymouth was released by the Ministry of Health on Thursday evening.
Blagdon Hot Bread Bakery in New Plymouth was visited by an infected person on Thursday, November 25, between 9am and 11am.
Anyone who visited this location during this time must self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms.
Testing centres coordinated by Taranaki DHB will be open for longer hours starting
tomorrow at 8am in New Plymouth.
The DHB's testing centres will also be open for extended hours through the weekend, including operating its South Taranaki testing centre based in Hawera hospital in Hunter St, Hawera.
• Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth (Access to testing clinic off Tukapa St)
Hours: Friday (3 December): 8am-8pm, Saturday/Sunday (4-5 December): 8am-4pm
• MediCross Urgent Care & GP Clinic, Egmont St, New Plymouth
Hours: 10am-4pm, 7 days a week.
• Phoenix Urgent Care & GP Clinic, 95 Vivian St, New Plymouth
Hours: Phoenix is open 8.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-2pm Sunday.
Testing hours are determined by demand and testing by appointment.
• Hāwera Hospital, Hunter St, Hāwera
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (3-6 December): 9am-3pm
• Waitara Health Centre, 26 Grey St, Waitara
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm.
• Ōpunakē Health Centre/Coastal Care, 26 Napier St, Ōpunakē
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm.
“Relying on overseas doctors to fill our rural workforce gaps is not sustainable."