Alterations to our contact tracing system are needed ... with high vaccination rates hopefully on the horizon

New modelling shows our best bet at ending lockdowns and reducing hospitalisations and deaths is 90 per cent coverage of everyone five and older.

Auckland University's professor Shaun Hendy says there also needs to be emphasis on contact tracing alongside that.

He says they want to see the system strengthened, and redesigned for a different environment.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says they will need to have a different approach depending on whether a person, or their household, is vaccinated.

He says the length of time for isolation and testing regime will change.