Covid 19 coronavirus lockdown: Border checkpoints swing into gear around Auckland

Queues in some spots and long stretches of empty highway elsewhere marked Auckland's first morning under the latest Covid-19 lockdown.

At Mercer, south of Auckland, police checkpoints were up and running within minutes of the new alert level activation.

About five officers were at one motorway off-ramp to stop vehicles and ensure people with travel exemptions were passing through but others were not.

At Auckland's southern boundary near Mercer. Auckland is now at alert level 3 and the rest of New Zealand at the less restrictive level 2. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A photographer at the scene said virtually all drivers were compliant, many even voicing their thanks to the officers.

He estimated about one-third of vehicles were turned away during the first 90 minutes of the checkpoint.

Google traffic maps on Sunday showed delays and queues on State Highway Highway 1 in the area at 9am but no delays at noon.

North of the city, Kaipara mayor Dr Jake Smith said this the checkpoints seemed to be running smoothly.

Border checkpoints were contentious in the mid-February "circuit-breaker" lockdown, when confusion broke out at the northern border over redrawn boundaries.

Smith said current checkpoints had returned to locations used in lockdowns last year, putting an end to the confusion characterising the mid-February lockdown.

He said checkpoint locations were just inside the Auckland boundary, so cordons enforcing Level 3 restrictions weren't encroaching on the Kaipara district.

"From a Ministry of Health perspective, the health order and the rules that apply for Auckland apply within the cordon area," Smith told the Herald.

The checkpoints were on the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, three parts of Mangawhai Rd, and Black Swamp Rd.

Roadblocks like this one have been established at Auckland's regional borders. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said people should expect delays at State Highway 1 near Te Hana.

At noon, all 88 functioning Waka Kotahi Auckland traffic cameras except for one at the SH1 Greenlane interchange showed quiet roads.

Some entire highway lanes were totally clear of traffic.

Police in a statement last night said checkpoints would be reinstated around the region for Level 3 restrictions.

"The checkpoints on the outskirts of Auckland will be stopping vehicles and questioning drivers, ensuring there is no non-essential movement through the region," police said.

"Anyone attempting to travel across the regional boundaries should expect to be stopped and asked for proof of essential travel."

The Prime Minister last night said people granted travel exemptions during the mid-February lockdown would not have to re-apply during this lockdown.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said people wanting to replace documents, update workers, or make new requests should log in to the business travel register.