Australia's extended the suspension of quarantine-free travel from New Zealand another 72 hours.

It now ends 4pm Sunday - or 2pm for Auckland. 

It was in place due to lapse today after initially being paused because of the Northland Covid-19 case and the announcement that it was the South African strain.

Now that there are two new community cases with the strain in the community, the pause has been extended.

Australian acting chief medical officer, Michael Kidd, says 12 people who'd been in isolation at Auckland's Pullman hotel at the same time flew to Sydney before the bubble popped.

He says three have since flown on to Hong Kong, two travelled to Queensland and all relevant authorities have been advised.

He says the others are still in New South Wales.

More to come