Anyone trying to enter the West Coast or travel within the region for an Easter holiday break will be turned around by police and told to go home.
With the long weekend due next week — about halfway through the four-week Level 4 lockdown — police are expecting some to attempt to come across from Canterbury.
A large number of crib owners from Canterbury and Central Otago rushed to the West Coast prior to the lockdown nine days ago to see out the time at their crib or holiday home.
The population at locations like Haast, Lake Kaniere and Lake Brunner has swollen, and there has been some tension as a result.
West Coast and Canterbury police will be pooling resources on the main routes to the Coast to stop those deciding to test the lockdown boundaries.
Sergeant Chris McCracken, of Greymouth, said the same would go for any unnecessary domestic travel within the region.
Before the holiday break and with a number of essential workers likely to be given a break, "we may have more on the road".
"You will be turned around and told to go home."
There would be "no excuse" to go off to the crib, he said.
"I know our Canterbury colleagues are working on resources to turn those people around if they try to come to the West Coast."
— Greymouth Star
