Fast food to fishing: Hawke's Bay residents start alert level 3 activities

Hawke's Bay surfers, fishing fanatics and fast food lovers are getting their fix under alert level 3. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay surfers, fishing fanatics and fast-food lovers are back doing what they love under the Government's alert level 3 coronavirus response.

Queues of more than 15 cars patiently waited for fast food drive-throughs to reopen in Hawke's Bay, with up to 40 in line by lunchtime. Photo / Warren Buckland

Queues of more than 15 cars were patiently waiting for fast-food drive-throughs to reopen - with one spending $184 on McDonald's in Hastings and queues of more than 40 cars by lunchtime.

One excited fast-food lover, Jade McKee, said she was waiting in line from the early hours of the morning.

"I was at McDonalds at 4.10am this morning waiting patiently in line," she said. "But KFC doesn't open until tomorrow, so I'll be there too waiting.

"It was definitely what I had been waiting for. Not exactly how I wanted it, as chips were a little cold, but just the taste of McDonald's was great to have back."

A Facebook user said she was queuing from 5.15am, with her two sons going back for more three hours later, while another claimed to have spent $184 in a single trip.

Away from fast food, activities that are considered "local, safe, and do not involve interaction with other people outside your bubble" are permitted during alert level 3.

At our beaches, who is allowed to surf is still not crystal clear, however, with the Government's official Covid-19 website stating: "If you are an experienced surfer, you can go to your local break. If you're not experienced, don't surf".

Harawira "DJ" Morris, an avid surfer in Waimarama, said he was not alone when taking to the waters first thing.

"There were a few people out enjoying the waves," he said. "It was everything I wanted and more.

"It was epic – shakas all round with the boys. I'll be going back out for more later too."

Jakob Knox, along with dad Matt and sister Grace, took a family trip to Napier to fish near the Iron Pot Warehouse in Ahuriri. Photo / Warren Buckland

In terms of fishing, according to government guidelines, you can fish from a wharf or the shore, but cannot cast off the rocks or fish from a boat, because boating is not permitted.

So Matt Knox, with his children Jakob, 7, and Grace, 5, took a family trip to Napier to fish near the Iron Pot Warehouse in Ahuriri.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website