A mobile testing station set up in Christchurch. Finding new cases, and rapidly tracing their contacts, will be helpful in getting the level of infection down to zero.

More than 350 community members have been tested for coronavirus in Christchurch, with more swabs being taken in Waikato as the Government builds a picture of whether there is community transmission.

Pegasus Health set up a testing station at the Pak'n Save Moorhouse Ave car park in Christchurch on Friday, while testing was also underway at supermarkets in the Waikato centres of Hamilton, Otorohanga, Matamata, Te Awamutu and Cambridge.

A similar round of "sentinel" testing in Queenstown on Thursday netted 343 tests – half of which have been processed and come back negative – while the same sort of random testing is also planned for Auckland.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Chris Emerson reacts to getting swabbed at the pop-up testing centre at Pak'n Save Moorhouse Ave in Christchurch.

The tests come as the Government considers reducing the alert level from 4 to 3, with an announcement expected sometime next week – though the level may not change.

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Pegasus Health chief executive Vince Barry said it was an "extraordinarily successful day", with more than 350 swabs taken by about 3.10pm.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Those taking the tests were wearing protective equipment including face shields, masks, gloves and gowns, which were being changed regularly.

He said he was "humbled" by the number of people who thought getting a test was the right thing to do, and amazed at how quickly it had all come together.

Barry said they did not advertise the testing centre earlier as this would bring in the wrong target group. They were looking for people with no symptoms or known exposure to the virus.

The Government really wanted to understand whether there were undetected cases "lurking" in the community, he said.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Those in cars were able to be tested as they drove through.

Chris Emerson agreed to a test because he had been in Italy and the United States until March.

He was symptom-free but wanted to be sure he was not carrying Covid-19 and infecting people.

"It's quite a burning sensation at the back of your nose ... it goes in quite a distance, but it's just uncomfortable, it's not painful."

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Natalie Sumich swabs volunteer Baden Uwart.

Holly Strange said she volunteered to help determine whether there was any community transmission, and encouraged others to do the same.

In the Waikato, Norris Hall, 67, decided to line up after doing his supermarket shopping at the Countdown in Te Awamutu.

"I'm a JP and a minister of religion, so it is nice to be on the safe side that I don't have coronavirus."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF The Waikato DHB have set up a testing station outside Te Awamutu Countdown for the public to get tested.

Deb Anderson, 56, is an essential worker and wanted to make sure her family bubble was safe.

Her daughter saw that testing was being advertised on Facebook so popped down after work.

"It's for peace of mind. I've just had the flu vaccine and I thought if this is available, it may be a good time to get down here."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Norris Hall was keen to get tested to make sure he doesn't have coronavirus.

Whiringa Anderson-Tuaupiki, 17, wanted to get tested because mum is an essential worker and she's coming from work all the time. It's just for peace of mind and to be on the safe side.

On Thursday, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the random testing was to "inform our understanding and build the picture of whether there is any community transmission happening", with Queenstown up first as it was an area of concern.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF A woman is tested outside Countdown in Te Awamutu.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the results of the community testing would be a factor in the Government's decision to change restriction level.

"[It's] a helpful piece of info in that regard, but equally its the earlier contact tracing that we've done … all of that information comes together as part of our consideration."

As of 1pm Friday, about half of the Queenstown tests had been processed. None had come back positive.

As of Friday, 74,401 tests had been done around the country. New Zealand has 1409 confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19, of which eight were new in the last day.

Eleven people have died, including seven from a Christchurch rest home, while 816 had recovered from the virus.