Police are defending their decision to work alongside Northland iwi to maintain border checkpoints over summer. 

They've announced they will keep Northland's checkpoints in place, with support from iwi, after Auckland's border reopens on December 15. 

Travellers will need to be fully vaccinated with a Covid Pass, or provide proof of a negative Covid test. 

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster old Mike Hosking it's better to maintain legal checkpoints, than have iwi groups operate their own illegal checkpoints instead. 

“Sitting alongside iwi, I’m confident we can avoid illegal activity, which could have realistically turned State Highway One into a carpark. This is about avoiding unlawfullness.” 

The southern border into Waikato will be monitored with Police spot checks. 

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