New Zealand delays dissolving parliament amid mystery coronavirus outbreak

Electoral commission assessing implications for September election, as Auckland placed on level 3 lockdown due to four new cases

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A mystery coronavirus outbreak in New Zealand has forced the government to postpone the dissolution of parliament ahead of an election just weeks away, as the country's largest city goes into lockdown and the nation faces a swift return to coronavirus restrictions.

Hours after New Zealand's first positive test of community-transmitted Covid-19 in three months, prime minister Jacinda Ardern made the decision to place Auckland into stage 3 lockdown - closing schools and businesses. Panic buying returned to supermarkets ahead of the lockdown, which began at midday.