An Auckland couple who travelled to Wānaka on Saturday (September 11), breaching alert level four travel restrictions, are said to pose a low risk according to the Ministry of Health.

“Public health officials have carried out a health assessment on this couple and deemed them low risk,” the Ministry told the Wānaka App.

Police continue to make enquiries into the movements of the 26-year-old woman and 35-year-old who reportedly crossed the Auckland alert level four boundary after providing an exemption on Thursday (September 9).

Stuff has reported one of the man’s parents is a high-ranking public official.

The couple drove to Hamilton Airport and boarded a commercial flight to Queenstown via Wellington, police said.

The couple then rented a vehicle and drove to Wānaka.

Police were notified of the incident via the Covid-19 compliance online reporting tool and located the pair in Wānaka on Saturday afternoon.

After being spoken to by police the couple indicated they would return to their usual place of residence.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult publicly denounced the actions of the couple.

“It’s astounding that this couple has felt they had the right to put each and every one in our district’s communities at risk during a global pandemic so they could partake in skiing,” Jim said.

“It’s simply not acceptable that a handful of people continue to flout the restrictions and think they do not apply to them.”

Police are now considering charges under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.

If convicted the couple can face a jail term no greater than six months or a $4000 fine.

PHOTO: Wānaka App