One patient in Auckland is currently being tested for the coronavirus - with what's being described as the "closest to fitting the definition of a suspected case".
The person has been put in isolation at Auckland Hospital, and test results are expected back on Saturday.
This comes as the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a global health emergency, as the virus spreads to some 18 countries - with person to person transmissions in four countries.
But the Director-General of Health says this declaration doesn't heighten the cause for concern in New Zealand.
Political reporter Yvette McCullough has more.
