There are 89 new cases of coronavirus in New Zealand, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says. It brings the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 1039.
Police have been cracking down on surfers on Auckland's west coast today after all water-based activities were banned during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Ministry of Health issued a Health Notice yesterday, which clarified that swimming, surfing, fishing and boating were not permitted while New Zealand was on alert level 4.
New Zealanders had previously been advised not to take part in these activities during the Covid-19 lockdown but the ban was made official in fresh laws released by the ministry.
But the more explicit guidance has not yet got through to some surfers.
Police, who have been monitoring surf cameras to detect rule-breakers, turned up at Piha Beach this morning, where about six people were in the water.
Surfers are spoken to and issued tickets by the police at Piha beach this morning after they breached the lockdown rules. Photo / Alex Burton
Officers spoke to about a dozen surfers at Piha this morning about the current rules, a police spokesman said. None were fined for their activities.
"Our focus is around engaging with and educating people who may be in breach of level 4 restrictions."
AUT journalism lecturer and Muriwai resident Richard Pamatatau said he saw two people surfing at the main beach during his morning walk today, and another preparing to head out into the waves.
It was frustrating for residents who had been following the isolation rules, he said.
"Lots of us would want to be in the surf, that's obvious. But for the good of the country, we just have to adhere to the level 4 lockdown.
"Those who continue to flout the restrictions in any form are playing on the good nature of most of us.
"That's just not good enough. Any one of those people outside their bubble will want the same care and attention from the medical system, from the social welfare system, from the Government and a slew of handouts.
"But they are not behaving like this rest of us. I think it's time for people to grow up a little bit."
Rodney Local Board chairman Phelan Pirrie said a "steady stream" of cars headed to the beach this morning with surfboards attached.
He had been told about confrontations between angry residents and surfers who were flouting the lockdown rules at Muriwai and Piha.
"They're just being defiant. People have contacted me and said they're aware of the [rules] but they're just not interested."
Pirrie said that if anything went wrong in the surf at Muriwai, a large number of people had to respond.
"Surfers get into trouble. Acouple of weeks ago a good, experienced surfer was seriously injured."
Police calling surfers out of the water at Piha Beach this morning. Photo / Alex Burton
The gates to Muriwai Beach had been locked to prevent four-wheel-drive owners from driving on the sand during lockdown, but the padlocks had been cut.
Auckland Council was now planning to block Coast Rd to prevent 4WD access. There were also plans to block carparks at the beach.
The ban on water-based activities was introduced because of the risk of people needing assistance, which could require others to come into close contact, or for under-pressure medical services to be pulled away to treat preventable injuries.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said yesterday that most New Zealanders were very aware of what they could and couldn't do under alert 4 and were doing a "tremendous job".
"We want people to stay safe, but if a small number of people persist in deliberately flouting the restrictions, police will have the discretion to warn or, if necessary, to arrest.
"The Health Notice makes it clear what types of outdoor exercise and recreation people shouldn't do. Outside of that, we are asking people to stay local, apply common sense and not do anything that could risk exposure to injury or require search and rescue services."
