Te Hapua closes the road

Roads leading to Te Hapua and Cape Rēinga have been closed, with only locals on essential business allowed through. Picture / Ngati Kuri

The road to New Zealand's northernmost settlement has been closed by the local iwi in a bid to protect vulnerable residents from the Covid-19 virus.

Ngāti Kuri closed Te Hapua Rd at 6pm on Wednesday, six hours before the national lockdown started, with only emergency services and locals on essential business allowed through.

The northernmost section of State Highway 1 leading to Cape Rēinga is also closed, as are the campgrounds at Tapotupotu and Spirits Bay/Kapowairua, amid concerns about people reportedly heading to the Far North to sit out the lockdown at baches, beaches and campgrounds. Ngāti Kuri Covid-19 lead Sheridan Waitai said campers were being directed to Rarawa Beach until a more suitable location became available further south.

The closures are part of a range of measures taken by Ngāti Kuri and Te Aupōuri, which include delivering food, filling water tanks and setting up a dedicated helpline.

Ms Waitai said all households from Awanui north had received information packs with an 0800 number to call if they needed help, and an orange ribbon. Anyone who was elderly or unwell was instructed to tie the ribbon around their letterbox as an extra reminder to would-be visitors not to enter.

The iwi had also delivered 'kaumātua packs' to residents aged over 60 with health advice and items such as wipes, toilet paper and barley sugars. More important than the contents, however, was the message that someone cared and was keeping tabs on them.

The iwi was also delivering food to those who needed it and filling up water tanks, and was working closely with the Department of Conservation, Civil Defence and police.

There had been some complaints about the road closures, but Ms Waitai had told the volunteers at the road blocks that "lions do not worry about the opinions of sheep". Standing back and doing nothing to protect kaumātua, kuia and tamariki would have amounted to "complete negligence," she said.

Stranded campers at Rarawa Beach were also being looked after with supplies, health checks and internet so they could contact their families. Police were making sure they were camping a safe distance apart. Once it was safe for them to leave they would be allowed to go to a more suitable location further south to continue their isolation.

"People can find it hard to show generosity in times of stress, but if they were our children in another country we'd like to know they were being taken care of," Ms Waitai said.

A number of tourists who had been staying in campervans at Rarawa Beach were escorted by police to Awanui for fuel on Friday, then via SH1 to designated camping quarantine areas in Whangārei. Campers in the Cape Rēinga area had been directed to Rarawa, until Whangārei facilities were ready for them.

Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu and Whangaroa hapū have since joined the initiative, while bigger iwi, including Te Rarawa, are running their own relief operations. Ms Waitai said the relief effort had great support from Kaitaia businesses such as Pak'nSave and Cavaliers wholesale foods, as well as Kaitaia's Senior Sergeant Russell Richards. For help from Houhora north call 0800283-353. For Covid-19-related health advice phone 0800 358-5453.