Visitors are being urged to stay away from Great Barrier Island as the community fights to keep the area free from COVID-19.
The small community is at high risk of the illness due to their large elderly population.
According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention patients in their 50s have a 1.3 percent mortality rate for coronavirus, in their 60s this increases to 3.6 percent, 70s it's 8 percent and patients 80 or older have a 15 percent mortality risk.
Protect Aotea Spokesperson Kelly Klink says the virus could have a devastating impact on the community.
"We don't have the infrastructure or medical supplies. We only have one medical centre on the island.
"With the high population who are at risk, we only have enough to look after the whanau on the island. We are asking that no tourists come to the island, although we love our tourists."
The group is asking for the airlines who service the island to be cautious.
"We are also urging Barrier Air, Fly My Sky and Sealink to be vigilant with foreign travellers.
"Despite the recent requirement of self-isolation for tourists arriving in New Zealand, on Thursday we witnessed a British tourist on the island, who had only recently arrived in New Zealand."
They say refusing tourists will have an enormous impact on the tourism industry but the community needs to be protected.
