New Zealand's two-speed Omicron COVID-19 outbreak may have peaked in Auckland, even as cases and hospitalisations remain high.
On Tuesday, health officials reported two further deaths, in Wellington and South Island's Southern region, along with 960 people in hospital.
The death toll stands at 117.
The Omicron variant continues to test the nation's health system with infections staying high and and hospitalisations at unprecedented levels.
However, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said analysis of Auckland data suggested New Zealand's biggest city was past a peak.
"Quite clearly in Auckland, the number of cases is clearly on the way down," he said.
"While the number of new admissions each day seems to be on the way down, we are still seeing the total number of people in hospital in the northern region continue to increase."
Home to New Zealand's primary international airport, Auckland has been the hardest-hit Kiwi city through the pandemic, with a majority of cases and lengthy lockdowns.
Dr Bloomfield said the outbreak was now increasing in intensity in other cities and regions.
"There's no doubt there's a pretty full on outbreak here in Wellington ... we're still on the way up," he said.
The Tairawhiti region, one of the poorest and most remote on the east coast of North Island, has the highest per capita infection rate.
The outbreak has surprised COVID-19 modellers, with case numbers overtaking even the "high" scenario published by the government last month.
However, intensive care beds have stayed lower than predicted.
As of Tuesday, a record 22 people were in intensive care.
Dr Bloomfield reported 21,616 community cases on Tuesday, the highest figure in five days.
However, a recent shift to Kiwis self-reporting their test results means daily case numbers are less reliable.
The seven-day rolling average is 19,226.
