NZ's first virus outbreak in 6 months grows to 7

The first outbreak in six months in New Zealand has grown to seven people.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday that number is expected to keep growing, especially after some of those infected spent time at a church, a school, a casino and a hospital.

"I think from the experience of what we've seen overseas, we are absolutely anticipating more cases," Ardern said.

Ardern also announced people will be compelled to wear masks when inside essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies during strict lockdowns.

That came after the government on Tuesday imposed a strict lockdown of at least three days for the entire country and at least seven days in Auckland and Coromandel after identifying the first infection.

Ardern said genome testing has confirmed that the outbreak is of the delta variant and originated from the outbreak in Sydney, although it's not yet clear how the virus breached New Zealand's border quarantine controls.

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