With the situation around COVID-19 worsening by the day, it is more important than ever to comply with government instructions to self-isolate if you have been travelling. 

Those who choose to breach this instruction risk being made liable under the Immigration Act. The Matakana Coast and surrounding area draws a lot of tourism, and some local businesses are being very vigilant to ensure that no one who has recently been overseas is putting others in potential danger. Warkworth's Wharf St Bistro is checking patron's passports to see if they've been out of the country in the last 12 days.

One resident posted on a Warkworth Facebook page that there were two German tourists hitchhiking from Auckland to Whangarei, “coughing and spluttering” and saying that they had only been in the country for seven days. 

In other areas of New Zealand there have been reports of people choosing to ignore the 14 days self-isolation; a major cause of concern. An email hotline has been set up for people to report any one that they believed to be flouting this rule, at [email protected] and the government encourages people to use it and provide details of where the person has travelled from, and where they are staying. Alternatively, immigration can be called at 0508 225 288.

Let’s flatten the curve, together.