Covid-19: Auckland couple face prosecution after flying to holiday home in Wanaka, police say – Stuff.co.nz

An Auckland couple flouted alert level 4 lockdown rules by crossing the border and flying to their holiday home in Wanaka, police say.

The couple a 26-year-old woman and 35-year-old man crossed the alert level 4 border using essential worker exemptions.

They then drove to Hamilton Airport, before flying to their holiday home in Wanaka.

A police spokesperson said the couple would be prosecuted after failing to return to their place of residence within the alert level 4 area after leaving for approved essential personal movement.

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The couple would be issued with a summons to appear in court in the coming week, police said.

Police said the event was one of a small number of disappointing incidents at Aucklands southern boundary recently.

Other incidents include a group of three who were stopped at the Mangatawhiri Road/State Highway 2 checkpoint on Saturday when they attempted to cross the boundary under the guise of essential workers.

The group presented checkpoint staff with a document containing the letterhead of an essential business.

However, following questioning by police they admitted they did not have an exemption and were issued a warning by police, before being sent home.

Police said the group could face enforcement action if they breached the rules again.

What is most frustrating for police is that these incidents detract from the overall high level of compliance shown to date by the public, said the spokesperson.

As of 5pm on Saturday, 61 people have been charged with a total of 71 offences in Auckland since the alert level 4 restrictions came into place.

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Covid-19: Auckland couple face prosecution after flying to holiday home in Wanaka, police say - Stuff.co.nz