Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will hold an urgent press conference on Omicron at 11am on Sunday.

The conference was previously unscheduled, with media told of it soon after 9am on Sunday morning.

There have been several border-related Covid-19 cases in recent days, with several airline, airport, and MIQ workers infected.

Nine cases in Motueka have been linked to an Air NZ worker, but this had not yet been confirmed at Omicron when the Ministry of Health last updated the media.

Ardern indicated last week that Omicron community spread would likely result in the entire country being placed in the 'red” traffic light setting.

That setting is not a lockdown but would restrict large gatherings and hospitality.

Omicron is far more transmissible than the earlier Delta variant but is less likely to make people seriously ill.

The Government have said it is likely that Omicron will come into the country at some point but that the longer it can be kept out the better, as more people will be able to get a third booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.

As of Friday night about 21 per cent of over-12s have had their booster shot.