Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that with ongoing alert levels, the wage subsidy scheme will be extended.

Ardern this evening revealed that level 3 restrictions would continue in Auckland - and level 2 restrictions across the rest of New Zealand - for a further 12 days, ending at 11.59pm on 26 August.

The settings will be reviewed on 21 August.

"We will use what tools we have to protect jobs, incomes and businesses as well as people's health.

"We do have an underspend currently for the second extension. We had an estimate that it would be roughly $2.6 [billion] to $3.9 billion, in terms of the drawdown on that. It's actually come in closer to two [billion dollars]. There is already an appropriation we can draw on for a wage subsidy extension."

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the extended wage subsidy decision was made following the fact that a level 3 situation in Auckland would impact the rest of the country.

"Making the wage subsidy (extension) nationwide is a reflection of that."

Changes to other business support schemes was being considered, including the Covid-19 leave scheme, he said.

Robertson said that was to ensure that people could have certainty about being able to remain at home.

"Our expectation is that access to the scheme will be similar to previously."

Applications to the current wage subsidy are still open, Robertson said.

If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre

She said the best economic response was a strong health response, but confirmed that the wage subsidy scheme would be extended nationwide until the end of the level three restrictions.

Republished by arrangement