8 Mar 2022

Auckland mayor Phil Goff announces he has Covid-19

9:46 pm on 8 March 2022

Auckland mayor Phil Goff says he has tested positive for Covid-19.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says it is important that the council consults with both mana whenua and urban Māori about the creation of Māori seats.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff Photo: Ricky Wilson / Stuff

Goff says he has a sore throat and other "mild symptoms" and will work from home for the next 10 days.

He says the diagnosis has spoiled his wife, Mary's, birthday celebration planned for this week.

In a post to Twitter he urged people to "take care of yourselves and your loved ones".

National Party leader Christopher Luxon announced that he has Covid-19 yesterday.

Finance spokesperson Simon Bridges has also tested positive alongwith fellow National MPs Stuart Smith and Mark Mitchell.

All up, one third of National's 33 MPs are currently in isolation.

Meanwhile, three Labour MPs were confirmed cases - including David Parker, Poto Williams and Anahila Kanongataá-Suisuiki.

A spokesperson said three more Labour MPs were isolating as household contacts and were continuing to work from isolation.

Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was also in isolation.

ACT and the Green Party said none of their MPs were in isolation.

The Ministry of Health reported 23,894 new cases of Covid-19, with 9881 in Auckland today.

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