After a record number of Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday, the prime minister believes the country's Omicron peak may be in late March. New Zealand recorded its largest ever one-day case number with 243 cases on Saturday.

On Sunday the cases dropped to 208 and on Monday, there were 188 new cases. But with the long weekend came lower testing rates.

Fewer than 13,000 people were swabbed for Covid-19 on Sunday, at least 5000 down on the most recent weekdays.

The drive also continues to get children 5 - 11 years old to get vaccinated - with 41 percent vaccinated, and only Māori about half that at 23 percent, Pacific at 31 and pakeha at 46 percent.

Professor Shaun Hendy from Te Punaha Matatini and now the newly formed Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa spoke to Māni Dunlop.