The Upper Clutha has been fairly quiet since alert level four was announced a week ago (Tuesday August 17), officials say. 

Apart from the group of men caught jet boating by police on Friday (August 20), first responders have seen little action.

Wanaka Search and Rescue (SAR) incident management team leader Bill Day has been very pleased with how locals have been “playing by the rules”.

“It’s exactly how we’d like it to be, we’re grateful locals are responding so well because we don’t want to expose our people at the moment,” he said.

Read more: Enforcement action to be taken against jetboaters on Makarora River

Wanaka senior constable Adrian Kerin said most of the community had done well in dealing with the new personal responsibilities of QR scanning, limiting travel, wearing face masks in approved alert level four stores and staying home. 

Empty tables at Speights Ale House.

However, there have been “a couple” of family harm incidents in the past week. He reminded people to seek help if needed.

“There are agencies available to assist,” Adrian said. “[They] just need you to reach out to them.”

Wanaka’s two medical practices have been kept busy with Covid-19 testing, and late last week approximately 200 people were being swabbed daily for Covid-19.

Nurses at Wanaka Lakes Health Centre last week.

Foodstuffs, the owner of New World supermarkets, said almost all shoppers are supportive of mandated face coverings. 

“We have seen good compliance since this measure was introduced earlier in the week and think this is great advice for New Zealanders who have already increased their mask wearing habits significantly,” Foodstuffs south island’s CEO Steve Anderson said.  

St John is continuing to deliver its emergency ambulance operations and patient transfer service in Wanaka as needed. 

PHOTOS: Wanaka App