The Covid Response Minister's defending keeping Auckland's border up.
Previously unreleased health advice reveals Cabinet was advised to lift the region's border when the country moved into the Traffic Light System.
It was contained in the Director-General of Health's affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal, which is holding a hearing on the new Covid-19 framework.
Cabinet has instead held off on relaxing the border until next Wednesday.
Minister Chris Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan they want to give the rest of New Zealand a chance to hit 90 per cent vaccinations first.
“So that when cases do start to spread out of Auckland, which I think people acknowledge that they will when that boundary is removed, we’re in the best shape possible to not see a big spike in cases.”
Police announced they will maintain checkpoints to ensure travellers into the region are vaccinated or have a Covid-19 test.
Te Tai Tokerau, an iwi working to guard the border, says cops will be stopping every single car.
Hipkins says it's ultimately an operational decision for Police, who will determine the best approach with iwi.
He says he expects it will be similar to checkpoints for drink driving.
“In some cases, they'll stop every car, and in some cases, they'll randomly be stopping cars. Those are decisions the police make all of the time, they're very good at it, they keep the traffic flowing while they’re doing that.”
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