As of midnight Thursday, essential workers crossing the Auckland borders will need to have tested negative to COVID-19 at least seven days before travelling.
The police were going to be doing random checks to make sure people comply, but that's been pushed back a week and many wonder whether that's now left the border vulnerable.
Freight companies were caught by surprise on Monday when the Government announced everyone crossing the border would need to be tested within seven days or risk being turned around.
"The industry found out about this at the same time as everybody else - announced by PM on Monday," Road Transport Forum CEO Nick Leggett told Newshub.
So after discussions, the Government granted a week's extension on when police will check for proof of the COVID-19 test.
Mainfreight's managing director Don Braid said: "They've realised that it wasn't just as easy as implementing a check at the border without putting the processes in behind it".
It's a high-trust model and there have previously been problems relying on private companies working for Auckland airport and the Auckland and Tauranga ports to ensure their workers were tested.
Waikato district mayor Alan Sanson and epidemiologist Michael Baker both told Newshub on Thursday they were concerned a plan to test at the border hadn't been sorted out with essential workers long ago.
Baker said essential workers leaving Auckland could potentially have the virus.
"They could infect a roomful of people through aerosol transmission."
Around 3000 essential workers are expected to cross through Auckland's borders every day and it only takes one positive case getting through to start another outbreak.
