The total number of active COVID-19 cases in New Zealand is now at 43, after 17 people are reported to have recovered from the illness.

The Ministry of Health says there are four new cases detected in managed isolation since the last update on Monday.

There are no new cases in the community.

The total number of confirmed cases in NZ is now 1744.

The Ministry says two of today's new cases are part of the same family that arrived back into the country on December 9.

They arrived from Czech Republic via Germany and Singapore.

"Both people tested positive on day 3 and are now in quarantine in a facility in Christchurch."

The Ministry says the other two cases travelled together arrived on December 10 from the United States.

"Both people tested positive around day 3 and are being transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch."

The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,352,462.

Air New Zealand aircrew member

Final whole genome sequencing results for the positive COVID-19 case of an Air New Zealand aircrew member who flew from the United States show, the lineage doesn't match any genomes previously sequenced in New Zealand.

"The same genome lineage has been reported in the United States.

"The three aircrew members who are close contacts of the aircrew member who tested positive have returned negative day five test results.

"A fourth person who is a casual contact was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility as a precaution after developing symptoms.

"This person has returned a negative test result and remains in the quarantine facility."

NZ COVID Tracer

NZ COVID Tracer now has 2,409,300 registered users.

Poster scans have reached 139,351,943 and users have created 5,614,164 manual diary entries.

Ministry of Health updates over the Christmas period

The Ministry will continue through the Christmas period to provide updates about cases and actions taken in response.

The frequency of reporting continues to reflect the routine nature of the cases appearing at the border in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities, says the Ministry.

"The Ministry's current reporting of four times weekly of media updates - on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - will continue until Wednesday, December 23.

"The public can be assured that the Ministry will report any significant development, including any case emerging in the community, outside these scheduled reporting dates if required."