Ashley Bloomfield says elimination is still the best approach to dealing with the more infectious Delta strain of Covid-19

Auckland is moving down to Alert Level Three tonight.

Daily case numbers in the region remain in the double digits -- but almost all cases are household contacts of existing cases.

The Director General of Health says the elimination strategy is working and is continuing to be used.

He says elimination doesn't mean no more cases, but going hard on any outbreaks that pop up.

Auckland University's Des Gorman says Aucklanders are getting sick of lockdown, and tonight's alert level change is in line with public opinion.

New restrictions have been put in place around northern Hauraki, after three cases were found in Whakatiwai.

The rest of the country remains at Level Two, but the gathering limit has been increased to a hundred people.