Auckland Airport COVID-19 case threatens 2-day old Aus-NZ travel bubble

Australian planes in Queenstown, NZ

New Zealand health authorities are poised to deliver more information on a new COVID-19 case discovered on Tuesday.

An Auckland Airport worker has tested positive to COVID-19 in New Zealand's first community case since the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble.

Kiwi health authorities announced the positive case in a media release on Tuesday, which said more information would follow later this afternoon. The statement read:

"The usual protocol of isolating the case, interviewing them, and tracing their contacts and movements is underway."

Monday saw thousands cross the Tasman Sea and enter New Zealand after the long-awaited end of mandatory quarantine for Australian travellers.

Under the terms of the trans-Tasman bubble agreement, all states, territories and New Zealand can suspend quarantine-free travel with places that have outbreaks.

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday:

Reactions to identified COVID-19 cases by NSW have tended to be less inclined to immediate restrictions than other Australian states.

Last Friday, New Zealand began donating vaccines in the Pacific region, citing that dose sharing made the best available use of available vaccines:

-- with AAP