An economist says a short sharp lockdown is better than a Sydney-style dragged out Covid-19 response

Most of New Zealand's at alert level four for three days, apart from Auckland and the Coromandel peninsula, which are likely to be locked down for a week.

It follows a positive Covid-19 test from a 58-year-old Devonport man, who'd been to Coromandel township for the weekend.

Infometrics head forecaster Gareth Kiernan says New Zealand bounced back from last year's five-week lockdown.

He says things have dragged on in many countries around the world, so going hard and early seems to be the best response economically.