New Zealand announces a week-long lockdown for Auckland

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Auckland will go into lockdown for a week.(AP: Mark Baker)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Auckland will go into a lockdown for seven days after a community case with an unknown origin was recorded.

The rest of the country will be put into so-called Level 2 restrictions that limit public gatherings, among other restrictions.

Ms Ardern said the latest patient had experienced symptoms since earlier in the week and could have infected others.

Almost two million people in Auckland were forced into a snap three-day lockdown in mid-February after a family of three were diagnosed with the more transmissible UK variant of COVID-19.

more to come

ABC