Auckland is currently in an Alert Level 4 lockdown. In figures released to the Herald last week, a Ministry spokeswoman said just 170 of the 3900 exemption applications had been approved for Aucklanders to leave the city. Officers had to also address three university students from Auckland after they allegedly crossed the alert level border illegally on their way to Gisborne. A Health Ministry spokeswoman said travel into and out of Auckland was highly restricted. "We are taking a very cautious approach to applications for personal travel exemptions to travel across or within the Alert Level boundaries.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 18, 2021 21:11 UTC