Police are stopping cars at road blocks in order to catch those flouting lockdown rules.
Video / Alan Gibson
Iwi and small, isolated communities are pleading for Easter holidaymakers to "stay away" as reports emerge of lockdown-breakers sneaking in to vulnerable hotspots.
In Whangamata, the town's population has reportedly increased this week - similar to holiday levels - and lines are emerging at the only supermarket.
Tūrangi and Ohakuneare both also reporting non-locals swarming into their communities.
Bach owners who do so risk prosecution under the new Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, and also put a strain on local resources and health services.
Police have been cracking down through the day on people flouting lockdown rules and trying to get away for Easter by stopping and turning motorists around at checkpoints up and down the country.
In the Tasman district south of Murchison, police stopped eight groups of travellers this morning who were travelling north for the Easter break and turned them back to Christchurch.
Meanwhile in Auckland, police were stopping all cars entering and exiting Auckland's Southern Motorway and others have been set up north of Wellington.
A worker at Z petrol station in Whangamata said while traffic was slow during the day locals believed people were sneaking in to town overnight.
"Just in the last few days it has become really busy here. You can really see it at New World, our only supermarket. There weren't any lines there before but in the past few days it has been getting really long."
The influx of non-locals had many in the small town concerned, she said.
"We have a lot of older people living here and limited healthcare options. As an essential worker, the increase is also putting us at risk.
"There are not many police around so there is not much we can do about it."
Other locals have contacted the Herald to say the increase largely occurred at the start of the lockdown period, and the supermarket was likely busy becasue it would be closed on Good Friday.
Meanwhile, Ohakune-based iwi Ngāti Rangi is urging outsiders to not come into the Ruapehū area during lockdown, particularly over the upcoming Easter break.
Ohakune has 800 holiday homes.
"We have enough non-locals here as it is and people need to stay at home," Te Kāhui o Paerangi chair Whetu Moataane said.
"As a rural community, our local health system can and should only respond to the sitting population.
"You will be putting pressure on our rural health system and food supply chain.
"We do not have the capacity to cater for visitors as well.
"Respect our place by respecting our wishes. We aren't open for business."
Police officers stopping and checking motorists on State Highway 1 in Ōtaki, north of Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Moataane said they were also urging local authorities to step up to enforce the lockdown.
"We would prefer that our borders be shut immediately. It's the only way we are going to combat this ngārara [bug] and keep our people and community safe."
Police would have an increased presence in the area, he said.
Mo Rongo, Mahia Hub leader and chief executive of Rongomaiwahine Iwi Trust, said visitors to the community of 1140 full-time residents were "not hard to see", and those attempting bach visits were "arrogant and ignorant".
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"It is a shame some choose to ignore the safety of our community. Visitors come here, stay in their private holiday homes or baches, go to the shops. There is a high risk of contamination, and they are putting our lives at risk.
"It is our duty of care to look after our community which is primarily made of vulnerable, older, European and the Māori community."
The East Cape is being protected on the northern flank by Bay of Plenty iwi Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou in the east, running checkpoints from Wharekāhika to Uawa.
Ngāi Tūhoe is also operating checkpoints in Te Urewera, and this week Ngāti Manawa announced two checkpoints in Murupara.
Handful caught out in Queenstown and Southern District
Southern District police said motorists were mostly following the rules at the checkpoints across the region, which includes Queenstown and Otago.
"There have been 10 checkpoints across Southern District today and in general compliance was good with only a handful or motorists turned around.
Hundreds of vehicles were stopped at the checkpoints with most of those on the road either being essential workers or travelling to the supermarket," Southern District Police said.
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