Kaipara mayor Dr Jason Smith is expressing his frustrations with central government as police checkpoints in Northland from August last year were reinstated late yesterday. Photo / Michael CunninghamKaipara mayor Dr Jason Smith believes Northlanders are being ignored by central government after yesterday's border checkpoints were reverted to their locations from last year. Revised northern border checkpoints:• SH1/Mangawhai Rd (Twin Coast Discovery Highway)• Mangawhai Rd/north of Coal Hill Rd• Black Swamp, west of Rako Rd• Mangawhai Rd and Cames Rd• Mangawhai Rd and Ryan RdLast year, residents on Coal Hill Rd, Avocado Lane, Black Swamp Rd, Paul Rd, Carter Rd, Sandhill Heights, and Rako Heights were adversely affected by the checkpoints, forced to travel elsewhere for supplies. Smith said Tai Tokerau local leaders were frequently ignored and this checkpoint change was another instance of central government not listening to its smaller regions. An estimated 90 per cent of businesses at Mangawhai's Wood St shopping centre had closed because many owners were unsure whether they were operating under alert level 2 or 3.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 15, 2021 16:18 UTC