New Zealand's death toll from the swine flu outbreak has risen to at least six, health officials said on Thursday.
A spokeswoman from the regional health authority in the country's north said two people had died in an Auckland hospital on Wednesday, with a woman confirmed as having influenza A (H1N1) as well as other medical problems.
The second death was suspected of involving swine flu but officials were awaiting confirmation from tests.
"The deaths announced over the past few days show how quickly complications can arise in those with known risk factors and the need to monitor people's conditions very closely," Sandy Dawson of the Ministry of Health said.
The total of confirmed cases in New Zealand has reached 1,431, but officials said only a small proportion of people with symptoms were now being tested.