Police issue level 4 water reminder

Police found people were in groups at places like playgrounds and skate parks.

Police

As the weather begins to warm, police are urging Aucklanders to avoid the temptation of water sports that would breach current lockdown restrictions.

It comes as police consider enforcement action against a fisherman rescued off rocks at Papanui Point near Raglan on Sunday afternoon.

While fishing off rocks is permitted under alert level 3 restrictions, which are in place in the Waikato, police said the man was from outside the area.

The man was able to swim to a nearby rock where he was winched to safety on the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

“It serves as a reminder to the public about the reason why restrictions are in place,” police said.

“In Auckland at the weekend, there were some instances where police found people were in groups at places like playgrounds and skate parks.”

Police reminded Kiwis that under alert level 3, fishing is only permitted from the shoreline or a wharf.

Fishing from rocks or from a boat is not permitted.

For Aucklanders, no water-based activities are permitted while under alert level 4.

Under alert level 2 restrictions, which will be put in place across the country – excluding Auckland – from Tuesday, usual sport and recreation activities are permitted if they can be done safely.

Meanwhile, 42 cars were turned around at Auckland’s southern boundary checkpoints on Sunday for non-essential travel, and 32 at northern checkpoints.

As of yesterday, 21,474 vehicles had been stopped at 10 checkpoints on Auckland’s boundaries.

Between August 31 and September 5, 19,319 vehicles were stopped at the five southern checkpoints – 715 were turned away for non-essential travel.

At the five northern checkpoints – imposed on September 2 – 2155 vehicles were stopped and 120 vehicles turned away for nonessential travel.

The southbound checkpoint at State Highway 1, the Mercer off ramp, is the checkpoint with the most cars being turned away.