Auckland

All five cases of the virus in New Zealand have been in the Auckland region.

More than 400 local and international artists were on the cards to perform at the festival, which was due to start tomorrow.

It is the second year in a row the festival has been cancelled, after last year's event was called off in the aftermath of the 15 March terrorist attack in Christchurch.

There were concerns earlier this week that it would be called off again, but it was given the all clear to go ahead on Tuesday, with authorities instead warning anyone who felt sick to stay home.

This is the confident response from Minister of Health David Clark after being asked if events like Pasifika and Polyfest should still go ahead, despite the announcement of New Zealand's first COVID-19 coronavirus case.

He says, "we're confident at this stage the chance of any spread into the community is very low, as long as people take the sensible precautions".

Clark says "if anyone is feeling unwell they shouldn't go to a big public event" and they should self-isolate. 

The person - who is in their 60s - is in a stable and improving condition in Auckland City Hospital, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

They are a citizen of New Zealand who had been to Iran and flown back to New Zealand via Bali. 

Ardern said New Zealand's pandemic plan was now being fully put into place.

"It has been through good care and good management that New Zealand has gone through such a long period of time without having a case arriving on our shores," Ardern added.

Rain started falling in Auckland this morning, the first time there's been more than 1mm of rain in 47 days.

Metservice meteorologist Andy Best said there was 7mm in Lincoln Park in Massey, 8.8mm in the Waitakere Ranges and 12mm at Piha this morning.

"The front is expected to move just to the east of Auckland this afternoon and then away this evening," he said.

"Just the fact that rain has fallen in excess of 1mm, making it a 'rain day' officially, doesn't mean we've had enough, by any means."

Festival director Torise Flay says the festival stage will complement the programmes that the 11 Pasifika Villages are providing.

She said, there will be a new feature, the Festival stage, that will feature headline acts performing on Saturday and Sunday.

"Also new to the programme is Pasifika Strong that will include Pasifika Strong, Pasifika strength athletes that'll be represented in five different Pacific islands."

Pasifika Festival at Western Springs in Auckland takes place March 14 and 15.

Samoan architectural designer, Lei Toetu, started the not-for-profit project 'The Book Stop', so people can share and swap books.

Since launching in the suburb of Mt Roskill, there's been demand for more fridge libraries in disadvantaged parts of South Auckland, Mr Toetu said.

"There are a lot of things you can do with these types of fridges, but this is something that will benefit the whole community. It's not going to landfill and it's still being used.

"It's actually being used longer than what it was designed for."

Their success came through a new programme supported by government agencies and business leaders in the city.

Pacific community churches helped to identify people who needed to learn how to drive, and those who were driving without a licence.

A ceremony marking the group's graduation was held in Mangere last week.

Employment Minister Willie Jackson said the aim of the 'Licensed for Success' programme was to help Māori and Pasifika gain employment and to reduce driving infractions.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the person showing the symptoms was in Auckland Hospital and "being managed appropriately".

"The normal management of someone who is a suspected case of an infectious disease like this is that they have a special isolation room in the hospital and it has what's called negative pressure ventilation and that basically stops the possibility of the virus being carried out in the air, and the staff looking after that person follow very strict requirements around personal protection."

The funds were delivered to the Office of the Consul General Faolotoi Reupena Pogi and later transferred to the Government Accounts for Measles.

The Government has acknowledged with gratitude and appreciation the donations presented as well as the support through the conduct of a Measles prayer service at the Fale o Samoa.

Donations as follows:

The 25-year-old building in Auckland's Beresford Square has been used as a cafe, wine bar and information hub and will now get a new home on the island of Niue as a tourist cafe. 

City Rail Link is the $4.4 billion project to upgrade Auckland’s train network with twin tunnels under the city and two new stations.

The building is being moved to make way for Karangahape Station.

Link Alliance deputy project manager Dale Burtenshaw said moving the distinctive building was a win-win outcome for everyone.