The police have made the stunning admission they haven't been able to track every Kiwi who has come home.
They've now resorted to texting people and tracking their location - but Police Commissioner Mike Bush wouldn't say how far those powers go.
Cops out on the street were sending families home from Wellington's Oriental Pde. One family, who don't want to be shown, drove two minutes from home so the kids could ride their bikes.
But while police are monitoring our beaches, they've failed to keep proper track of the biggest risk: Kiwis coming home across our borders.
Stricter border measures introduced last week mean those showing symptoms or those without a self-isolation plan are forced into Government-monitored quarantine or isolation.
Everyone else gets to go home to self-isolate.
There are currently 163 people in quarantine, more than 1500 in monitored isolation, and nearly 6000 in self-isolation.
The country was assured they would be door-knocked by police to ensure they were staying home - but the police have now admitted they haven't always been able to do that.
Police have introduced a technological solution instead: texting - although that's all the Commissioner really knew about it - he couldn't say how many people had consented to the texts, nor whether it meant constant police tracking.
Police Commissioner Bush steps down on Thursday but will be staying on with the COVID-19 response team.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said should text messages go unanswered, officers may follow up with a personal visit.
"Police are also conducting random self-isolation checks in person.
"The purpose of the checks is to ensure people returning to the country are complying will all self-isolation requirements."
