An additional 82 community cases of Covid-19 were reported in New Zealand on August 28. Video / NZ Herald
Close to 50 mountain bikers were seen on a Queenstown trail yesterday with one woman now facing the prospect of being hit with a fine after she crashed and was airlifted to hospital.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said his team were extremely disappointed with the riders at the mountain bikepark in Fernhill on Queenstown's outskirts.
"We would like to remind people that under alert level 4 exercise should be in your neighbourhood only," Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
Police speaking to a rider at the mountain bike park at Fernhill, Queenstown where close to 50 people were flouting lockdown rules. Photo / James Allan
"Any recreational activity that could lead to a rescue or emergency response is not permitted."
He said Queenstown police were called to the park yesterday to help the injured woman, but upon arrival estimated there to be 50 or more mountain bikers on the track.
"Due to where the crash happened, it took two hours, a 4WD and several police and ambulance staff to remove the injured woman from the site," Coster said.
The woman was then airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.
A woman is facing the prospect of being fined after going mountain biking in Queenstown and being airlifted to hospital. Photo / James Allan
"Police will be speaking to the biker at a later date and enforcement action for breaching restrictions will be considered," Coster said.
The other mountain bikers were "educated on alert level 4 rules".
James Allan lives within walking distance of Wynyard Bike Park and said the trails had been very busy with riders and walkers.
Most were sticking to their bubbles and wearing masks, he said.
But some were driving their cars to get there.
"It's very obvious who's from the area and who's not - if you're turning up in a car to a bike park, it's pretty obvious you shouldn't be there," he said.
Allan said he had also been riding the trails but had been taking it easy.
"To be fair, I'm a mountain biker, I live around the corner and I've been riding that track every second day," he said.
"But the main thing the Government said is do not hurt yourself."
The mountain bike club had closed the area's jump trails and urged riders to stay away and not push themselves, Allan said.
The woman crashed on a trail called McNearlyGnarly, he said.
The area was heavily forested and extremely difficult to access, he said.
Despite the disregard for the rules in Queenstown, Coster said he was happy overall with the behaviour of Kiwis across the country.
"Police continue to be pleased with compliance during alert level 4 restrictions despite a small number of incidents which have attracted police attention.
Police and ambulance at a Queenstown mountain bike park where authorities estimated 50 bikers were riding on a track where a woman was injured. Photo / James Allan
"While police are still taking an education-first approach, as our responses show, we will move to enforcement action quickly when required."
He said people could expect to be questioned about their movements if met by police, who were out and about around the country.
