“People who have families and want to take their bubble trips … they can still do that, but it just has to be on the mainland, not the island.
“But we would just ask those who come from Waiheke to be really careful.”
The police will be monitoring the border at the Auckland Ferry Terminals while the Maritime Unit is also on the water.
The same rules apply to Aotea Great Barrier. Local board chairman Izzy Fordham said it was a relief to have them in place.
“That gives us some clarity and security for the future when we come across people who shouldn’t be here.”
Some of these unwanted visitors have already arrived – a group of eight to ten boats were the first to arrive this morning off the island of Raketu, just outside Aotea.
“We’re just looking at different options to help with that, and we’re asking these people to please come back – after all, Raketu is part of Aotea Great Barrier, so that’s a bit of a shame, to be honest.
“I appreciate the fact that people would be longing to somehow break through the everyday life we’ve all experienced for the past seven weeks and load the boats and whatever. Please don’t come here right now.”
On Monday, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said different levels of alert within the city were impractical, but said today the island restrictions were reasonable given the limited health services available.
He said similar boundaries in other remote parts of Tāmaki Makaurau should be guided by health advice.
RNZ
