October 8 2021
Northland will move to level 3 from 11.59pm tonight after an Aucklander with Covid obtained travel documents and spent several days in the region.
Three iwi-led travel checkpoints have been established across Northland today with more on their way tomorrow, as locals look to shore up the region's defences against Covid-19.
The woman, who is understood to have visited Whangārei, Kawakawa and Paihia among other areas, returned a weak positive test result initially before a testing positive again in Auckland.
Two more checkpoints have been erected at Kaeo near Whangaroa College and on Matauri Bay Rd. Mobile units had also been employed to check people were following alert level restrictions.
Ngāti Hine spokesman Pita Tipene was happy with how the day went.
"We achieved what we wanted. We turned back more cars than we ever did."
Excuses motorists heading north gave, he said, were going sightseeing to the Bay of Islands and one driver said he wanted to check on his animals in Keirkeri.
"One guy said he was off to Oromahoe to buy cheese. He wanted that particular type of cheese. When asked whether he lived on cheese, obviously the answer was no," he said.
Group spokesperson Hone Harawira said more checkpoints would be set up tomorrow on State Highway 15 which leads to Kaikohe, and on State Highway 12 which leads to the Hokianga.
Northland leader Hone Harawira at an iwi-led checkpoint at Waiomio in January this year. Photo / Tania Whyte
In January, police disbanded the group's checkpoint at Waiomio, much to Harawira's disappointment at the time.
Asked whether he was confident the checkpoints would remain up this time, Harawira wasn't sure - saying officers in Northland were almost always good to work with.
However, the former MP said the checkpoints were critical to the safety of vulnerable Tai Tokerau whānau.
Police were reportedly at the Waiomio checkpoint today as it was operating.
About 100 vehicles had been stopped at the Waiomio checkpoint by 10.30am, with the majority being let through.
Tai Tokerau Border Control regional co-ordinator Reuben Taipari, who had been stationed at the checkpoint since its inception, said essential workers were being let through.
Taipari said people had been largely compliant with checkpoint staff and only a few had been unhappy with the directive.
He said it was a collaborative effort between iwi, hapū and police.
Tai Tokerau Border Control regional co-ordinator Reuben Taipari at the Waiomio checkpoint. Photo / Imran Ali
As details were sparse, he hoped more checkpoints weren't required, but said they would be established as necessary.
"Our communities further north are very concerned so we're trying to avoid having a mass stand-up of checkpoints but it comes down to clear communication."
In a statement yesterday, Tai Tokerau Border Control convener Nyze Porter said mobile patrols may also be used alongside fixed checkpoints to prevent anyone slipping through.
"Now that the decision has been made that Northland will go back to [alert] level 3, we will be asking people not to travel north from Whangārei until we get the all-clear from authorities," Manuel said.
"We're also talking to police about running mobile patrols to counter people trying to slip the border through the back roads."
