New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has gone into self-isolation until Tuesday after being deemed a close contact of a person who tested positive for Covid-19, the government has said, reports Reuters.

The exposure took place on January 22 during a flight to Auckland from the town of Kerikeri, the government said in a statement, adding that the result of whole genome sequencing was expected the following day.

Ardern, who is asymptomatic, is feeling well, the statement added. She will be tested on Sunday and is in isolation in line with the health ministry's directives.