Auckland lockdown extended until Sunday, rest of country to stay at level 2
Auckland will remain in lockdown until Sunday, a four-day extension of the lockdown which was meant to lift on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were promising signs that the Government was getting on top of the virus, but a short extension was recommended by director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield.
On Sunday night Auckland would move down to level 2. The rest of the country would stay at level 2.
Ardern said the rest of the country needed to stay at an elevated alert level to mitigate the risk of cases leaving Auckland when interregional travel resumed. Click here to read more.
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Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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