Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is suggesting that double vaccinated Aucklanders and those who test negative for Covid-19 may be able to leave the region by Christmas.
People RNZ spoke to on the streets supported the idea. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says vaccine certificates will need to be checked at the border.
He says work is underway to prevent queues of traffic and thousands of people leaving the region at the same time. He says allocating fully-vaccinated Aucklanders a time slot to leave the region is one possibility.
Aucklanders represent a crucial market for Far North businesses over the summer, which are already taking a hit from the snap level 3 lockdown in place until next Monday.
But as Northland logs the lowest vaccination uptake of any region in the country, many community leaders view travellers from Auckland as a risk.
Kaitaia Business Association chair Andrea Panther spoke to Susie Ferguson.
