The Covid Response Minister's defending keeping Auckland roped off

It's been revealed the Health Ministry advised Cabinet to open the border last Friday when the country moved into the traffic light system.

The advice was in the Director-General of Health's affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal, for a hearing on the new Covid-19 framework.

Cabinet isn't relaxing the border until next Wednesday.

Minister Chris Hipkins says they want to give the rest of New Zealand chance to hit 90 percent vaccinations first.

He says when cases begin to spread out of Auckland, it will ensure we're in the best shape possible to stop a spike.