New Zealand has recorded its first death from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

The case was reported by health officials on Sunday afternoon.

She was a West Coast woman in her 70s.

She was initially suspected to be suffering influenza. Twenty-one staff members were potentially exposed before she tested positive for COVID-19 and extra precautions were taken. None are yet showing symptoms.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the person was well-known to the facility and its staff, and her underlying health conditions meant she wasn't initially treated as a suspected COVID-19 case.

New Zealand also has 63 new cases of coronavirus COVID-19. Fifty-six previous patients have recovered, and nine remain in hospital.

There have been 514 confirmed cases to date. Sunday's number of new cases is lower than that recorded the past two days, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wouldn't be drawn on whether that would be a trend.

"None of us are willing to draw any conclusions at this early stage. There is a considerable lag time in any of our results... we all need to be vigilant. No one can be complacent or draw any conclusions just yet."