The Auckland District Court is normally a busy court but under lock-down it is eerily quiet.

The first person charged with breaching the coronavirus nationwide lockdown has appeared in court.

James Gordon Beadle appeared by audio-visual link at the Auckland District Court on Friday, facing a charge of failing to comply with a direction from the medical officer of health.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

The 31-year-old labourer from Manukau also faced charges of failing to stop for the police and driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs, having been convicted at least twice before.

READ MORE:

* Coronavirus: Full coverage

* Coronavirus: Auckland man facing charges after being pulled over twice in two days

* Coronavirus: Police looking to retired cops to help during pandemic

Beadle has also been charged with stealing petrol and driving while drunk or on drugs on Monday.

Thomas Newman sought name suppression for his client, arguing Beadle and his family would experience "extreme hardship" because he was the first person charged with breaching the lockdown.

"There is a heightened risk of a media dogpile and serious scorn directed at him and his family."

Newman's arguments for bail could not be reported for legal reasons.

Judge Brooke Gibson dismissed both arguments.

The judge said the fact Beadle was the first charged did not constitute extreme hardship.

"It is simply a natural consequence."

Beadle is due back in court in April.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Judge Russell Collins is still at work at the Auckland District Court.

In a court room next door, Judge Russell Collins gave a pointed warning to another accused after granting him bail.

"The world you're about to be released into this afternoon is a very different one you left some weeks ago.

"Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will be facing real adversity in the months ahead.

"They're expected to face real restrictions on their lives. There will be little tolerance shown to those that don't meet the conditions."

The court also heard from lawyer Jane-Frances O'Halloran who said getting instructions from clients under lockdown was proving difficult.

She said lawyers now had to ask Corrections for a time to see their clients over an audio-video link-up and there was a long queue to access the facility.

At the Waitākere District Court, Zane KJ Hepi appeared, accused of offending early Friday morning during the nationwide lockdown.

The 22-year-old faced a string of driving related charges in Henderson and parts of West Auckland.

His seven charges included reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the motorway, failing to stop while being chased by police and resisting arrest.

Hepi also faced charges for allegedly assaulting two police officers using a vehicle as a weapon and failing to stop and check if they were okay.

Judge Pippa Sinclair remanded him in custody for a bail application on Monday.