Police today advised they had issued an infringement notice to a student who flew from Auckland to Wellington on Sunday without an exemption.
The news comes after it emerged yesterday that a University of Otago student had breached level 4 by flying from Auckland to Dunedin on Monday.
That student has also been issued an infringement notice, police confirmed today.
They had got a Covid-19 swab and tested negative and was now self-isolating at their Dunedin flat.
A University of Otago spokeswoman said the university was working closely with police and the Ministry of Health on the matter and could not comment on the particular situation.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins today called the instances "disappointing", saying people should be checked at the door of the airport terminal before getting a flight out of Auckland.
"This is disappointing, these people should not be travelling," Hipkins said.
Infringements should apply, he said. Students should not be returning to their halls of residence if the place they are currently in is in alert level 4.
Hipkins said he would checking how people are being assessed in light of the breaches.
He said that previously at level 4, airports had people stationed outside, checking travellers were eligible before they entered the terminal.
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So we have a far more contagious virus, and we drop checking people at the airport to see if they should be traveling, whos more disappointing? the rule breakers? or those making the rules, Hipkins is useless
Depends on whether or not you believe in personal and collective responsibility.
Well… about the level of observation I’d expect from crusher Collins' biggest fan on here.
We are lucky enough to live in a free society. It is fundamental to a free society that individuals take responsibility for their actions. The problem is not Hipkins - who most media are saying is doing a creditable job. It is the entitled, arrogant idiots who don’t believe the rules should apply to them.
Similarly, no-one can predict what mutations of the virus will come across the border. You moan because rules are too severe, not you’re moaning they’re not severe enough.
What’s disappointing to me is mindless criticisms simply for some obscure political advantage.
Mindless criticism, you mean like yours? Crusher Collins? "Hipkins - who most media are saying is doing a creditable job"? Hello...what media? The next wave after Delta is called Lambda, far more infectious. CDC is predicting even worse for the US in the next 3 months. This government needs to get it together!
Seems like he is fast becoming like the National Party's "Mr Fixit" Steven Joyce.
I disagree. The people running Auckland airport, security etc are useless. They failed to stop people boarding. How many checks are there to get on a plane these days? Plenty. They should have noticed and acted.
Hipkins and other ministers set expectations and it is up to people down the line to follow them. Now that he knows they stuffed up, he has to act and remind them of expectations/responsibilities. If they continue to fail, he can then be fairly attacked.
However, the book should be thrown at the selfish young people putting the rest of us at risk. That is the best way to stop more doing this.
How the hell did they get on the plane? bet they won't be fined anyway
So apart from the lack of personal responsibility, what does this say about their parents to allow this?!
Just under 1.2 million people (population of the South Island) could have seen their 2 weeks of lockdown go to waste. I expect this person to be expelled - nothing less.
They are travelling because they have observed that nothing really happens to those who break lockdown rules. Product of a no consequences, no personal responsibility society.
P.S. Infringement notice is a flash word for "Wet Bus Ticket"
Sadly, very true
Probably med students responding to the email that they'd put their careers at risk!
But seriously, if they had a negative test beforehand, this is precisely the sort of thing that should be happening anyway. Locking everything and everybody down regardless of circumstances is like using a nuclear strike to break up a 10-person greenie protest — attractive to authoritarians but OTT to any sane person.
An infringement notice? I'm sorry, but the amount of planning and the deliberateness of the breach warrants something harsher than what appears to be no more serious than a parking infringement. This in no way would deter any other young student who may suddenly decide they're missing their boyfriend (or girlfriend) from hopping on the next plane.
It this situation is as deadly serious as we're told, then the breaches need to reflect that and be harsher than a slap on the wrist.
Are they from Auckland or Northland? Big difference, especially if you are from Northland!