Coronavirus: Iwi across NZ step up tourist blockades, close huts and walkways – Stuff.co.nz

FormerTai Tokerau (Northland) MP Hone Harawira is planning to block tourists from entering the Far North to protect locals from the spread of coronavirus.

Harawira saidthe steps to protect thevulnerable by raising New Zealand to Covid-19 alert level four from 11.59pm on Wednesdayhave come"too little too late".

It's a call many other iwiare making in a bid to protect their people, and their resources,before the country heads into a month-long shut down on Thursday.

With support from iwi leaders and Far North MayorJohn Carter, checkpoints will be put in place onSH1 Whakapara and SH12 Waipoua from 12pm on Wednesday, with further checkpoints to be organised for the Kerikeri area.

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"Tai Tokerau will suffer from government allowing tens of thousands of tourists into the country beforeclosing the borderlast week," Harawirasaid.

"Thousands of them [have been] roaming freely across the north without being tested, without self-isolating for 14 days, and without giving a damn for us."

The plan is to turn back tourists heading north andask those already in the area to head south, he said.

Arrangements would be made for locals coming home to be tested, while ensuring a "free flow" to those who provided emergency services, food and medical supplies.

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The Waikaremoana Great Walk in Te Urewera is popular among tourists.

He was also planning to distribute a flyer at checkpoints,with an explanation onthe blockades, medical tips and advice for tourists and locals.

Dr Lance O'Sullivan, who was named New Zealander of the Year in 2014 for makingbasic healthcare more accessible for people in the Far North, had agreed to support the checkpoints by organising test kits, protective gear and caravans.

"We've received hundreds of messages of thanks and offers of support over the last 24 hours, and we have talked to Whnau-a-Apanui, police, the mayor, iwi, and health authorities," Harawira said.

He admitted that by setting up the checkpoints the group were putting themselves at risk of contracting coronavirus, but said "we have no choice".

"The country is moving to a war footing and we aim to ensure Tai Tokerau is ready to defend its territory and its people from Covid-19."

The blockades would continue until he's "convincedgovernment is throwing the necessary resources into turning this threat around".

CAMERON BURNELL/STUFF

Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira will set up a blockade for tourists heading to the Far North (file photo).

"We ask whnau to be safe, take care of your kaumatua and kuia, and find ways to keep your kids active and happy in these times of crisis."

And it's not only healthcare iwi are concerned about.

In a small Mori community in Taup, a rhui has been placed on the local foreshore and river.

Waitahanui, which has a population of about 500, has banned fishing, hunting, gathering, swimming, and overnight camping in their area, including all waterways and reserves.

"We are encouraging everyone who does not live in this village to remain home and self-isolate," Ngti Twharetoa member Janice Wall said.

"Do your part to stop the spread. This is also to encourage self-isolation.

Our mokopuna (grandchildren) are at the forefront of all our decisions in our village."

In Te Urewera, in the Bay of Plenty, all huts, campgrounds and walks, including the popular Waikaremoana Great Walk, will be closed to the publicin preparation for the country moving to level four alert for Covid-19.

Ngi Thoe members will also be manning the area to ensure the guidelines are adhered to, which is what they've been doing for the past few days, Te Urewera Board chairman Tmati Kruger said.

"The entirepopulation of the country is now in self-isolation.

"We must emphasise thatTe Urewera is not suitable for self-isolation... we see Te Urewera as a single living system, and tangata whenua and manuhiri have a special place in it.

"Our role as kaitiaki in this case means keeping people safe and ensuring this closure is respected."

HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand was at Covid-19 alert level three on Monday, and would progress to level four at 11.59pm on Wednesday.

The iwi is also planning to limit areas available to visiting hunters in what is called the "roar season" as its where many iwi members gather food.

The roar season iswhere stag are hunted, runningfor about four weeks from the end of March.

All hut and camp bookings to June 30 will also be cancelled.

Inthe East Cape, road blocksandcheckpoints have also been planned.

Residents of Wharekahika will be stationed at Te Araroa Road between 8am and 6pm, from Wednesday 25 March to Wednesday 8 April.

Longtime Hicks Bay community member AniPahiruHuriwai, of Te Puna Manaaki aRuataupare,said volunteers were planning to set up checkpoints tostop campervans and other unfamiliar vehicles at Te Araroa and Wharekahika (Hicks Bay).

"We're a long way from anywhere. We're 180km away from our nearest hospital. We have no GPs here," Huriwai said.

"A high percentage of our community would be immunocompromised, a high number of our people have diabetes, respiratory problems, or are cancer patients.

"We really don't want visitors coming to our area, who may have come from overseas, we don't know, or who may not have been abiding by the 14-day self-isolation."

Volunteers for the checkpointwill attend a five-hour training session on Tuesday.

"We will be going through protocols for the checkpoint and for keeping ourselves safe from Covid-19."

Dozens of marae across the country have also closed their doors, even for tangihanga, including several from Te Arawa, around the Rotorua/Bay of Plenty area, and even further south including Te Toke Marae, 23km from Taup.

Aotearoa Fisheries Limited, the largest Mori-owned seafood company in New Zealand, has long supplied fish for tangihanga at Te Arawa marae.

Because of the closures, they decided to allocate 10kg of fish to tangi not held at the marae, a spokesman said.

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