In an attempt to halt the spread of Covid-19, local Kaikohe residents man a roadblock at the southern end of town during the coronavirus alert level 4 lockdown. Video first published 15 April 2020.

A Northland MP is calling on police to shut down the region's iwi-led coronavirus checkpoints, calling them illegal and intimidating.

But the country's largest iwi says the checkpoints are run in a non-threatening way to keep Covid-19 out of vulnerable communities.

Tai Tokerau Border Control, led by Hone Harawira, have been running the checkpoints in the Far North since the coronavirus alert level four lockdown began.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Tai Tokerau Border Control checkpoints are set up at Kaikohe to ensure all those entering the town and the Hokianga are acting correctly under lockdown rules.

After a complaint by a Kaikohe local stopped from getting groceries in the town, police advised the checkpoints on the appropriate way to run, said Wally Haumaha, police Deputy Commissioner: Māori, Pacific & Ethnic Services.

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"While our officers are not deployed to them, we do have staff visiting them to provide community reassurance and ensure they are operating safely."

Matt King/supplied Northland MP Matt King says the checkpoints are illegal and should be stopped.

But Northland National MP Matt King said he had numerous approaches from members of the public who found the checkpoints intimidating but were too scared to say anything public.

"People have been stopped doing their lawful business - one was a paramedic - and have been made to stop and take flyers."

At Waitangi, local residents were stopped from going to the beach, he said.

"These are illegal roadblocks - there is nothing legal about them," the former police officer said.

"We live under New Zealand law, and vigilante groups can't just make up their own rules, however well-intentioned," he said.

"I encourage everyone to stay in their bubble and respect social distancing rules and for the police to get these illegal checkpoints under control."

Supplied Te Rōpu Poa, Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi ō Ngūpuhi interim CEO, says the checkpoints do an important job.

But Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi Ō Ngāpuhi continues to support the checkpoints, said interim CEO, Te Rōpu Poa.

"Like other locations around the country, the Northland checkpoints have one objective and that is to keep Covid-19 out of particularly vulnerable communities."

Poa acknowledged that many people had genuine reasons for needing to travel through the checkpoints, such as going to the supermarket or essential workplaces.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF A Kaikohe resident flags down cars as part of the Tai Tokerau Border Control checkpoint.

But there were also a "handful" of people who found the checkpoints inconvenient because they were not respecting the rules and trying to go on holiday, she said.

Poa said while it was concerning to hear second or third-hand reports that some people going about legitimate business were being intimidated, the iwi has not had any direct complaints.

The reports also did not align with the iwi's observations, which included seeing overwhelming public support.

"We have had kaimahi [workers] from across the organisation both help and attend at the checkpoints since the Thursday before Easter, and their feedback has been that the interactions at the checkpoints are neither intimidating nor threatening, and that the people staffing the checkpoints are dealing with vehicle occupants in a genial and non-threatening way," she said.

"We acknowledge anyone who feels they had a negative experience, and will continue to monitor interactions at the checkpoints and work with Kaikohe police to ensure good processes."

Hone Harawira did not respond to Stuff's calls on Friday.