The South Island is calling for a tougher border with the North.

There are 44 new community cases of Covid-19 today — 41 in Auckland and three in Waikato.

It comes as Epidemiologist Michael Baker cautions people anywhere in New Zealand should prepare to meet the virus before Christmas.

Grey District mayor Tania Gibson told Heather Du Plessis Allan South Islanders are living well under Level Two, and they don't want to lose that.

“I think that it would be quite good if there was a strategy or a system in place that freight could get through and people domestically didn't need to travel if it got out of control. I think it would probably be quite a good thing for the South Island to remain Covid free.”

LISTEN ABOVE