Recent wastewater results suggest a Covid-infectious person was in Taranaki from the start of November, the region's top doctor says.
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Two more Covid-positive results have been obtained from samples taken from the Stratford area last weekend.
Taranaki District Health Board said samples taken on Saturday and Sunday have tested positive but testing on Monday did not detect viral fragments.
The board's medical officer of health Jonathan Jarman said the working theory is that the positive results can probably be traced to a visitor to the region.
The results are very concerning because they suggest an infectious person was in the Stratford areas since the start of last month, Jarman said.
The board's Public Health Unit said it was aware there were several visitors to the region for the Taranaki Garden Festival.
Testing in Hawera, Kaponga, Opunake, Patea, Manaia and Waverley on 8 November was clear of viral fragments.
In Wellington, a Covid-positive wastewater sample from Moa Point is considered most likely to be connected to an MIQ facility.
DHB warns people in Napier to remain vigilant
Meanwhile, another wastewater test in Napier has come back negative for Covid-19, but local health officials say the city's not out of the woods yet.
Traces of the virus were detected in Napier's wastewater last week.
Hawke's Bay's medical officer of health Nick Jones said the negative result was encouraging, but it was too early to be complacent.
He feared heavy rainfall last week could have impacted readings.
Another wastewater sample was collected in Napier today, and results are expected later this week.
Jones said it was still crucial that people in Napier remain vigilant about potential symptoms.