The last Covid-related death in New Zealand was reported on Feb 16 this year.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health also reported 20 new community cases of Covid-19 and all were in Auckland, NZ's largest city with a population of nearly 1.7 million which have been in strict level 4 lockdown since mid-August.

Local health officials said that a Covid-infected woman in her 90s, who had a number of underlying health conditions, died in North Shore hospital in Auckland.

"The woman was admitted to hospital on August 28 from home. She was a household contact of a case and had been confirmed as a case before admission to hospital," NZ health ministry said in the statement.

"The woman’s underlying health conditions and the state of her health meant it was not clinically appropriate for her to receive ventilator or ICU care," the statement read.

Condoling the death of the woman, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "Every death is a reminder of the damage COVID-19 can cause when it gets into our community."

"Our older New Zealanders and those with underlying health issues are by far the most at risk from the virus and one of the reasons lockdowns are such an important tool to stop its spread," Ardern added.

Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, said in the statement: “On behalf of New Zealanders, I want to recognise this family’s loss and this is a time for us all to offer our deep sympathy, while also respecting the family’s privacy."

Since the pandemic began last year, New Zealand, a nation of five million, has recorded 3391 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 27 deaths till date.

The country has administered 3,772,754 vaccines so far, including 2,482,124 first doses and 1,290,630 second doses, with 86,544 vaccines, including 60,869 first doses and 25,675 second doses, were administered in the past 24 hours, according to the NZ health ministry.