Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says there's preliminary evidence to suggest the Waikato cases are linked to one of the Auckland clusters.
Robertson told Morning Report there's no indication the virus emerged from the area and it's more likely it was taken there.
"Preliminary indications are that there may be an epidemiological link to one of the clusters, and so we will pursue that."
He said the discovery of the cases won't necessarily tip the balance away from dropping Auckland's alert level, but the situation is rapidly evolving, and Cabinet will need to take the latest advice when it meets this afternoon.
