Cantabrians on good behaviour
People loading up their car and heading to the beach, tourists driving to take in the scenery and people going out for a surf.
These are some of the people spoken to by police in the first week of the nationwide lockdown.
More than 4000 possible breaches were reported through the police’s new online reporting system within 24 hours of it being set up on Sunday.
In Canterbury, only 20 incidents have been forwarded from the call centre to police to follow up with.
Canterbury metro area commander Superintendent Lane Todd put the numbers down to good behaviour, rather than a lack of people wanting to dob others in.
The main concerns reported to police in the first few days involved tourists driving campervans around town, people driving to Sumner Beach and surfers.
It is understood police also pulled a motorist over in Selwyn who was towing two jet skis. The motorist told police he had to move them from one house to another as they were in the way.
In another case, police found a note left by a hunter on his car in Lake Lyndon, dated March 28, saying he was off for a hunt.
Todd said no-one had been arrested for breaches in the district as of yesterday. ‘‘It’s just been a bit of a firmer conversation around what’s required.’’
After the initial burst of reports, things had died down. ‘‘Generally speaking, we’re actually pretty happy with Christchurch,’’ he said. ‘‘There was quite a bit of education in the first few days around what people should be doing. The feedback now is a lot more positive, people are now staying within their bubble, respecting other people.’’
Todd said police were also keeping an eye on mental health in Canterbury, which has been tested in recent years with earthquakes, the Port Hills fires, and the mosque terror attack.