On Wednesday Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins told Checkpoint if there is additional risk seen outside existing level 3 boundaries in the next 24 hours then level 3 restrictions would be applied wider in Waikato.
On Thursday the Waipā district was one of the areas to join level 3.
The move to level 3 restrictions is a huge cost to the community, but necessary to stop the spread of Delta, Waipā District Mayor Jim Mylchreest told Checkpoint.
He first heard of the new restrictions at the 1pm press conference. There was no prior notice to him, but the restrictions were anticipated, he said.
He is urging people to use common sense and do the right thing – as the border will be very logistically difficult to police, he said.
