There are 74 new community Covid-19 cases today and one Covid-related death. 

The person who died was being cared for at Tauranga Hospital. "The family has requested that no further details be released and, out of respect for those wishes, we will be making no further comment at this time," the Ministry of Health said in today's 1pm update. 

"Our thoughts are with the patient's whānau and friends at this deeply sad time." 

Today's cases are in Auckland (56), Waikato (9), Bay of Plenty (7), Lakes (1) and Canterbury (1). 

Earlier today, Taranaki DHB confirmed there are "a number of positive Covid-19 infections" linked to the Eltham case at the weekend. 

There are 11 Covid cases in one small South Taranaki school as the region battles a burgeoning outbreak. 

It comes after two new cases were revealed in Eltham and Hāwera last night. 

South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon says 11 cases are linked to Eltham Primary School and all are in the same class. 

So far, there are no adults yet infected, but Nixon says he is expecting the number to rise. 

There is also one case in Hāwera which Nixon was informed of. That case is connected to the Eltham cluster. 

"There's a big feeling of apprehension around the town at the moment. We're in orange, but people have started to social distance and take their own precautions. People are pretty worried," Nixon said. 

His understanding is the original Eltham case announced over the weekend has still not been linked to any other case either in Taranaki or elsewhere in the country. 

Eltham Primary School, which has a roll of about 150 students, is now closed for the remainder of the year. Yesterday was the school's final day, with students coming together for a Christmas performance, posted to the school's social media pages. 

Steffy Mackay, an Eltham-based South Taranaki District Councillor, confirmed she had been informed of 11 cases at the one school in South Taranaki, with a number of probable cases also in the community. 

Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who is based in South Taranaki and a leader within Te Runanga o Ngāti Ruanui, said this morning there are "over a dozen" cases in the town. 

"About a third of the population were tested over the weekend, and as a consequence of that, last night we received news we have multiple cases, combined totalling over a dozen," Ngarewa-Packer said. 

The MP is currently in the town conducting saliva testing alongside other Ngāti Ruanui volunteers. 

Counties-Manukau DHB hits 90% vax target 

Meanwhile, Auckland's Counties-Manukau DHB has today cracked 90 per cent double vaccinated status. 

Counties-Manukau, which has the second biggest eligible Māori population for a DHB and the largest eligible Pacific population in Aotearoa, has now joined Auckland and Waitematā DHBs in reaching the milestone. 

Tairāwhiti has also just made it to 90 per cent first dose. Just two DHBs remain below 90 per cent first dose for the eligible population - Whanganui (needs 77 more first doses) and Northland (needs 3813 more first doses). 

Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman described Counties-Manukau hitting the 90 per cent double vaccinated target as a victory for public health and a tribute to a region that has done it tough. 

"The long battle to suppress Covid-19 and protect our community has consumed so many people. That we have achieved 90 per cent is due to our clinicians, our kaimahi and business sponsors, and especially the hundreds of thousands of South Auckland residents who have followed the health advice and made an informed decision to roll up their sleeves. 

"Vaccinations have helped to build resilience within a part of the Auckland region that has faced the full force of Covid-19. Around one in five people in Counties Manukau were vaccinated against Covid-19 when the Delta outbreak hit New Zealand. We have battled this pandemic, hesitancy from many people as well as a campaign of disinformation, which compounded the challenge of protecting the community against this looming threat. 

"Covid-19 has not gone away. But our community is significantly more resilient as we head into Christmas. We are continuing to support people who are vaccinating for the first time as well as those who are completing their second doses." 

He now wants every suburb across Counties Manukau and every population group to hit the 90 per cent target. 

They were now preparing for the roll-out of vaccinations for the five to under-12 age-group and supporting people who qualify for a booster shot. 

"Protecting against Covid-19 means everyone needs to vaccinate," Newman said. 

Delta is continuing to pop up around the country, with Auckland still recording the majority of cases, followed by the Waikato. 

Yesterday, there were 80 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, including 51 in Auckland, 21 in Waikato, seven in Bay of Plenty and one in Lakes. 

Te Kuiti continues to be a concern for local leaders with 11 of the region's 21 cases stemming from there. 

Last week Maniapoto Māori Trust Board chair Keith Ikin posted a video on Facebook urging people in the community to follow the rules and isolate if required as they desperately try to prevent further spread of the virus in the rural community. 

He said the King Country was currently the epicentre of the virus and wanted people to understand the substantial risk they are putting others at if they continue to ignore health advice. 

Throughout the outbreak there have also been multiple cases in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupō, Manawatū, Blenheim and Christchurch. 

Of the 62 people in hospital with Covid yesterday, 12 were in North Shore, 20 in Auckland, 26 in Middlemore, two in Waikato and two in Tauranga. There were four people in ICU or HDU. 

A Canterbury case was also announced yesterday and is expected to be included in today's official count. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously warned more cases are expected to pop up around the country once Auckland's border lifts. 

The traffic out of Auckland this morning was relatively free-flowing, but the roads are expected to get busier as schools finish for the year and Christmas draws near. 

The Government has also launched an advertising campaign asking people to come up with an isolation plan in case a family member does contract the virus.