Welcome to Makara, now go away.

Welcome to Makara, now go away.

Residents fed up with sightseers and tourists swarming to their tiny seaside community during the national lockdown have erected a barricade and signs to keep them out.

ROSA WOODS Makara residents Josh Bolton and Marty Green get on with DIY projects during the lockdown.

One lane of the sole-road in and out of Makara Beach near Wellington has been partially blocked by a barrier and signs warning the community is a restricted area. One sign reads simply: Go home.

"All we're doing is what the police are doing," resident Marty Green said, "telling people to go home."

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Makara residents aren't alone in trying to keep coronavirus at bay by preventing others from entering their communities.

An East Coast iwi who had already closed the road into their community have now introduced a curfew and ticketing systems to protect vulnerable residents. Tourists have also been turned back from travelling through roads in the Far North by locals manning checkpoints.

On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said there were good intentions around roadblocks - keeping the community safe.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Makara resident Veronica Raukawa during a moment of peace and quiet on the beach.

"If anyone is contemplating that, I think it is best they work through with their local police, district health board, local government and mayors. Just ensure everything they do is lawful."

But lawyer Douglas Ewen said the law was clear: members of the public can't block roads and doing so could be a criminal offence.

In a state of emergency only a constable, a Civil Defence Controller or someone acting under their authority may prohibit or partially restrict public access to roads or public places in order to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency.

"If you don't fall into one of the categories in one of the restricting statutes, you may not block a public way, even though it's 'my neighbourhood mate'.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Makara locals have put up a cordon to deter non-residents from entering their community throughout lockdown.

"It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see how citizen road blocks can cause tension on the streets when people are out on their government-mandated walkabout and can't access a park or the like because the locals have constructed a barricade.

"This is likely to cause a breach of the peace and the police have arrest powers in such a situation."

At Makara, a 20 minute drive from Karori, Green said locals were sick to death of people driving or cycling out to their community when there was no good excuse for it.

"There's no shops, no services, they're doing exactly what they've been told not to do."

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Locals say there's no reason for people to visit Makara during the lockdown.

While residents weren't actively policing the roads they were making it clear visitors weren't welcome, one local said.

"If they don't get the idea from the signs they'll get it when they park up at the beach. We're usually a pretty friendly bunch but these days we're not exactly rolling out the welcome mat."

New Zealanders have been told they can still get outside for exercise during the lockdown but many had found the messages mixed and confusing.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday people should stay local and the preference was for people to just step outside of their home and stay in the community.



ROSA WOODS/STUFF Makara residents are fed up with tourists and sightseers travelling to their isolated community.

"Keep it as local as possible."

As a pair of tourists took photos on the beach, Makara resident Barry Briggs said people should do as they were told and stay away.

"We're as happy as Larry doing our own thing but we just get inundated with people coming out here. They need to bugger off."

Summer visitors were notorious for getting their vehicles stuck in the beach's deep stones but when asked if locals would be giving a hand to anyone trapped during the lockdown, Briggs didn't mince words.

"Nope."

District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said police were aware the Makara community had concerns about the welfare of residents.

"We have been speaking with those involved and have provided education and encouragement to ensure the safety of all members of the community.

"We are aware some of this concern is around people from outside of the area heading to Makara Beach for fishing and beach going in recent days"

Parnell urged people to adhere to the Level 4 restrictions currently in place.

"While you can leave your home to exercise you need to keep it local - don't drive long distances to beaches for fishing or walks."