Borderlands back in spotlight

20 Aug, 2021

JULIA WADE

With the uncertainty of the ongoing lockdown, the likelihood of shifting lockdown levels could potentially leave Kaipara at a lower restrictive grade than Auckland and see a repeat of 2020, where residents of Mangawhai’s southern borderlands were cut off from their community and Northlanders disconnected from the rest of the country.

Nearly a year ago to the day, New Zealand went into the nation’s second lockdown on August 12, with Auckland placed in Level 3 restrictions and other regions in Level 2.

When police set up checkpoints required by law along Auckland’s regional boundaries, including Black Swamp, Coal Hill, Cames and Ryan Roads, as well as on SH1 north of Te Hana, locals residing on the southern side of Mangawhai were blocked off from their local shops, services and schools just five minutes down the road and Northland’s access to southern regions effectively cut off.

At the time, Kaipara mayor Dr Jason Smith described the border shutdown as ‘a very large sledgehammer’ which neglected to take into account how the east Kaipara community worked.

Concerned about the effects of any future lockdowns, Northland mayors – Far North’s John Carter, Whangarei’s Sheryl Mai and Smith – developed a ‘position statement’, requesting central government consider the Auckland and Kaipara ‘borderlands’ and the communities residing around the perimeter.

However, a year later, acting Kaipara mayor Anna Curnow says Kaipara still does not have confirmation on where the boundary might lay should Northland move out of Level 4 before Auckland.

“Once we have official confirmation of the boundaries we will, of course, make sure our communities are made aware as quickly as possible so they are able to plan accordingly. Kaipara, particularly in our eastern communities with their proximity to Auckland, is pretty full. I commend how quickly people and businesses have adjusted, including for example, businesses clearing out perishable stock to support those in need,” she says. “Given the increasing number of cases however, I’m not expecting a quick change in levels and I encourage the people of Kaipara to plan for this.”

Locked down and locked out: August 2020 and south Mangawhai residents find themselves cut off from their home town due to the proximity of Auckland’s boundaries. PHOTO/FILE