The traffic light levels starting countrywide from Friday have been announced

Northland, Auckland, Taupo and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Opotiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts .... will all begin at the most restrictive setting - red.

The rest of the North Island, and the whole South Island, will move in at Orange.

Settings will be reviewed in two weeks.

Jacinda Ardern says regions starting in red are still dealing with outbreaks - or have vulnerable populations or low vaccination ... and red provides extra protections against Covid.

It's unclear what will trigger a shift to orange for those places ... Ardern says the Government will see what happens with cases and vaccination levels.

As indicated earlier, no region will begin in green.