The Director-General of Health has confirmed a person who died in hospital on Saturday did die from COVID-19.
It brings New Zealand's total COVID-19 death toll to 26.
Ashley Bloomfield offered his condolences to the family on Tuesday.
"I continue to offer my deepest sympathy to all those affected by COVID-19 and request the privacy of this family and others who knew this person," he told reporters at the 1pm press conference.
The returnee was transferred to hospital from managed isolation on February 5 for an unrelated medical issue, but they subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.
It comes as Auckland enters its second day of COVID-19 alert level 3 following the discovery of three community cases of COVID-19. The newest cases are the more contagious UK variant of the virus. The rest of New Zealand is at alert level 2.
Both alert settings will be reviewed on Wednesday.
