A network of COVID-19 community roadblocks in the eastern Bay of Plenty are turning people away unless they obtain a 'travel permit' from local iwi Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.
The travel permit system, which is not Government-sanctioned, was established at COVID-19 alert level 3 when the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) removed a requirement for Kiwis to have a letter proving they were essential workers.
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui's 'community safety checkpoints' have been in place since alert level 4, and an iwi representative told Newshub they may stay in place even through alert level 2.
Newshub has contacted police for comment on the legality of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui's roadblocks and associated travel permit system.
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui iwi member Dr Haydn Read, a Nukuhou farmer, says the travel permits protect the Bay of Plenty's vulnerable elderly population and its agriculture and horticulture industries.
"We want to make sure the people who come over the border are who they say they are," Dr Read told Sean Plunket on Magic Talk on Monday afternoon.
"The eastern Bay [of Plenty] is right in the middle of kiwifruit harvest, maize [harvest], milk's still being picked up from farms and things like that - so there's quite a few people coming and going."
Dr Read says each of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui's checkpoints has a police presence, as required under the new regulations, and were set up with the support of local police.
Produce transport companies like Fonterra, OPAC and Eastpack have complied with the iwi's travel permit requirements without complaint, he added.
Dr Read denies receiving complaints of any kind, despite a Magic Talk listener calling the radio station on Monday to report the travel permit system.
Last week, new Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told the Epidemic Response Committee that the number of community roadblocks had fallen across the country when New Zealand deescalated its COVID-19 response from alert level 4 to 3.
He said he expected them all to have stopped operating completely by the time alert level 2 comes into effect - although Dr Read refused to comment on whether Te Whānau-ā-Apanui would remove its checkpoints then, even if it meant the roadblocks didn't have the required police presence.
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui's checkpoints are the latest in a litany of community roadblock controversies in recent weeks, which has seen Coster called upon by several MPs to ban them outright.
Coster moved to address some of the issues surrounding the roadblocks - such as reports of harassment, intimidation and illegal detainment - by implementing a rule that requires police to be present at checkpoints.
Last week, the Epidemic Response Committee meeting erupted in a series of fiery clashes after Coster repeatedly had his handling of issues surrounding community roadblocks during the coronavirus crisis called into question.
