Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Popular Far North campgrounds no longer accepting 'walk-ins'

Maitai Bay, one of Northland's most scenic gems found on the Karikari Peninsula. Photo / Daniel Kurt Wiki

The days of spontaneously rocking up to Far North coastal hotspots may be behind us as iwi put measures in place to lessen the threat of Delta.

One of the most high profile precautions has been the continued closure of Maitai Bay, a pristine paradise in Karikari Peninsula around 44km northeast of Kaitaia.

It's the only Department of Conservation (DoC) campground off-limits to visitors in the country and has been since August this year. Access to the campground is only through private land.

Around 500 campers fill the popular site on summer nights with more staying over the Christmas and New Year period.

Kataraina Rhind-Hetaraka (Te Whanau Moana me Te Rorohuri) said a big part of her whānau's tough decision to keep the beach closed was to protect their children, too young to be vaccinated.

She said there were around 300 whānau in the bay, many were youngsters.

"It's not something we've taken lightly but with our low vaccination rate, our young children so close to the campground and the borders dropping, we just didn't want to take that risk."

Around 79 per cent of Karikari Peninsula residents had received one dose of the vaccine, while 69 per cent were fully vaccinated.

"When the borders open on December 15th it's going to create mayhem here," she said.

Under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, vaccine passes are not mandatory for people staying in DoC accommodation.

"It only takes one to come into the campground, have the virus and then bang," Rhind-Hetaraka said. "We're not being selfish."

And anyone severely sick with the virus would have to be taken to Whangārei Hospital, she said.

Rhind-Hetaraka said while the only business truly impacted by the closure was the profitable DoC campground itself she was aware the decision had ruffled some feathers.

"I'd be lying if I said there hadn't been any disagreements but I keep going back to that it's about protecting family."

They couldn't rely on police checks to ensure people were vaccinated or had a valid Covid test as they'd only ever seen one official checkpoint on Matai Bay Rd.

So they had to protect the area and the people within it, Rhind-Hetaraka said.

The coastal haven had great spiritual and cultural significance to the Ngāti Kahu iwi and two local hapū, Te Whanau Moana and Te Rorohuri.

"We're really protective and trying to look after that place," she said.

DoC Kaitaia confirmed it was preparing to realign visitor management in the Far North with the Covid-19 Protection Framework for the pending opening of the Auckland border.

An updated announcement from DoC was expected on Thursday.

DoC Kaitaia operations manager Meirene Hardy-Birch said the goal was to provide safe spaces for locals and visitors to relax, recharge and enjoy one another.

"The feedback we are hearing is that most people staying in DoC accommodation and campgrounds would like the confidence that others sharing these places are also vaccinated," she said.

Because Maitai Bay Campground was not manned 24-hours a day, it would make checking of "rules" difficult, Hardy-Birch said.

Further north, Ngāti Kurī has introduced a mandatory booking system for all fully vaccinated campers and children under 12 visiting Taputaputa, Kapowairua and Rarawa from December 15.

Ngāti Kurī chairman Harry Burkhardt said there'll be no walk-ins as they take a "highly precautionary approach" once holidaymakers are welcomed back to the region.

Visitors' My Vaccine Pass will be verified on check-in and they will only accept cashless payments.

Holidaymakers can book via the following websites: taputaputa.nz, kapowairua.nz, and rarawacamp.nz.