After enjoying a long run without new cases and even COVID-free status for a week, New Zealand has nine coronavirus infections and is grappling to house an influx of returning Kiwis.
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Health officials announced two new cases on Monday, both of which detected within the country's isolation regime.
All identified cases are in isolation or quarantine, and the recent positive tests are seen as proof the system is working.
Under New Zealand's health-first elimination strategy, all arriving citizens and residents during the pandemic have been asked to quarantine for two weeks in hotels at the government's expense.
That $NZ81 million ($A76 million) investment has seen 20,121 people through the system - or roughly $4000 ($A3750) per Kiwi - and it's getting more unwieldy and expensive.
That figure doesn't include other exemptions to the border restrictions granted for humanitarian reasons or on economic grounds.
A Hollywood crew has been let into New Zealand to create the long-awaited sequel to the Avatar film, as have crews for the America's Cup yacht regatta next year.
As the situation worsens around the world, particularly in developing countries which have fewer safeguards against the disease, Kiwi citizens are heading for New Zealand.
After ebbing to a trickle of entries two months ago, hundreds are now arriving daily.
"Kiwis are going to continue coming home and we have an obligation to allow them to come home," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
With the 4272 people currently in either managed isolation or quarantine facilities pushing the limits of Auckland's supply, new facilities have been opened in Christchurch and Rotorua.
Arrivals to Auckland International Airport on the weekend were unhappy at their three-hour bus trip to Rotorua for isolation.
"It's absolute joke," one man told Stuff, after enduring flights from London to Auckland, who claimed he wasn't told he was going to the Suplhur City.
"We all thought the driver was joking. They should have told us before so we could go to the bathroom, grab water, a jersey, but nothing."
Still, the system is seen as a necessary inconvenience and expense to ensure other Kiwis aren't subjected to onerous societal restrictions.
The seven new cases announced in the past five days have all transited from India or Pakistan, with some on the same flights or in the same travelling parties.
Two others caused a scandal last week when it emerged they had been released - on compassionate grounds due to a family illness - without being tested, only to test positive.
Officials have responded with testing at near-record levels and a change of management.
Australian Associated Press
