Kiwis travelling north or south through locked-down Auckland can stop in the case of an emergency, to use a toilet, or to get petrol.
Northland was split from the rest of New Zealand on Tuesday night when all regions but Auckland, which remains at alert level 4, moved to alert level 2. Unlike at higher levels, there are no restrictions on personal travel at level 2.
Travelling straight through Auckland - such as from Northland to Waikato - is allowed for several reasons, such as going to work, moving to your main home, or going to a funeral or wedding. The advice is to travel directly through the region "without stopping as much as possible" and have evidence that you are permitted to travel.
However, people can stop for three reasons.
"If people need to stop for toilet breaks, petrol or because of an emergency, that is permitted but Alert Level 4 protocols should be followed, such as wearing a face covering, keeping a physical distance from others and hand washing," a spokesperson for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's COVID-19 Group told Newshub.
"Auckland Council are also operating a number of public toilets in close proximity to transport and freight routes.
"If someone travelling through Auckland has to stop due to an emergency during their travel, they are of course able to seek whatever help they need, whether that’s emergency services or the AA. Again, as they are in a Alert Level 4 area they should take all required precautions where possible.
"We ask that people planning on travelling through Auckland make sure they are prepared, have a face covering with them and fill up the tank before they enter the Alert Level 4 area where possible, to reduce the chance of needing to stop during their journey."
The spokesperson said the risk of spreading COVID-19 "is still high" and "we need to make sure people travelling through are not exposing themselves or their communities to the virus during their journey".
People can travel into or out of Auckland for a number of reasons, such as to get a COVID-19 vaccine, access a health service or travel to the airport. A holiday is not a reason to travel into, out of, or through Auckland.
While guidance from the likes of the Ministry of Health and the US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the risk of infection through surface transmission is low, people are still advised to clean surfaces regularly. The main means of transmission include breathing in air containing infected particles and infectious particles landing on someone's mouth, nose or eyes.
Kiwis are being encouraged to be vaccinated - more than 4 million first and second doses have now been administered - stay home if they're sick, wear a mask and remember basic hygiene measures.
