New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced to postpone the general election by a month due to an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The general election was scheduled on 19th September 2020. But it will now be held on 17th October 2020.

Jacinda Ardern said that the new date would enable parties to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under”.

“This decision gives all parties time over the next nine weeks to campaign and the Electoral Commission enough time to ensure an election can go ahead,” adding that she had “absolutely no intention” of allowing any further delays to the vote.

The opposition National Party has opposed the delay as restrictions on campaigning mean Ms. Ardern had an unfair advantage.

Earlier, the lockdown was imposed in New Zealand’s city Auckland on Wednesday after new locally-transmitted cases were reported.

Nine new cases were reported on Wednesday, the total cases are 58 in Auckland.

It has reported 4 new cases after 102 days, the country has imposed lockdown again.

Sources said that the four cases reported were all members of the same family. No one had any traveled history. Authorities are working to trace contacts of the family.

Authorities had imposed a three-day lockdown in Auckland after the cases were confirmed.