Why, in the midst of stage 3 lockdown in Auckland, are the flights still flying?

If Auckland is under stage 3 

lockdown how is there are 

flights to Queenstown 

TODAY?

This is what we are being TOLD. No one can leave Auckland. They are being stopped at the “border” by police checkpoints.

Yet, on the eve of what might be Level 4 lockdown (or an extension of level 3 the planes are flying out of Auckland.

 

Police will be setting up checkpoints around the boundary of Auckland following the city's move to level 3 lockdown on Wednesday.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said nine checkpoints at exit points just inside regional boundaries would be established.

Five of those checkpoints would be located in the north and four will be in the south.

In the north, the checkpoints will be at:

Twin Coast Highway/North of Coal Hill Rd

Blackswamp Rd

SH1 North of Twin Coast Discovery Highway

Twin Coast Highway/Cames Rd

Twin Coast Highway/Ryan Rd

In the south, they will be at:

Mill Rd

River Rd/Lapwood Rd

Kawakawa/Orere Rd & Orere/Matingarahi Rd

Matingarahi Rd/Lyon Rd

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/122421773/coronavirus-checkpoints-catch-aucklanders-fleeing-for-coromandel-baches

Then how do you explain this??!!

Not only are there flights from locked-down Auckland to Queenstown but the Air NZ site tells me there are 7 tickets still available!

Not being content with that I checked ARRIVALS at Queenstown airport.

This is from the Auckland airport site 

Domestic departures

Incoming flights

Outgoing flights

For what it's worth. No one is in quarantine in Queenstown.

Speaking to media a short time ago, the minister responsible for managed isolation facilities and quarantine, Megan Woods, confirmed after visits to those towns yesterday it has been decided they are inappropriate for isolation facilities.

Woods says they are still assessing whether New Zealanders returning from overseas can complete their two-weeks managed isolation in Dunedin.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/421423/covid-19-managed-isolation-facilities-queenstown-and-invercargill-locations-ruled-out

I was very helpfully told that these flights are just for essential workers so I decided to check for myself on the Air NZ website under the name of John Doe.

This was the first thing I was told.

I went on through the steps, short of getting out my credit card

And VOILA! I am on my way - almost.

I got this very helpful comment

“ I read Air NZ has cancelled most of their flights to and out of Auckland as I was meant to be flying out of here today. 

They are happy to take your money always have been to book tickets but doesn’t mean you are gonna fly, just so you know. “

I commented in jest that I might get to the airport with my ticket and not be able to fly. "You can apply for a refund" (and wait an eternity for my money?