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Defence force staff are arguing about who will get to staff the checkpoint at Ryan Road in Mangawhai.
The residents on the road have adopted the checkpoint and have been dropping off care packages to support the workers.
Resident Steven Godfrey set-up a petrol generator, a BBQ and hot plate, and drinks station for the checkpoint workers.
Each day, he travels five kilometres to top up the petrol, refresh tea, coffee and long-life milk supplies, and take away the rubbish.
“I do it each day so that they are able to charge their phones and have a light on at night,” he says.
Steven worked as a location manager in the film industry so had the portable gear on hand, but Covid-19 has put a freeze on the industry leaving him out of work since February.
“In my job, I would be on site for up to 14 hours so I know what it’s like. On a cold night being able to whip up a hot chocolate makes a difference.”
Steven runs the Ryan Road Street Facebook page and he made a post to encourage residents to do something for the checkpoint.
Women on Ryan Road have been baking and dropping off chocolates and food to the checkpoint army workers.
“Yesterday, the army had so much baking show up, they were sending some to other checkpoints.”
Although Steven rarely sees the same workers twice at the checkpoint, they have told him they appreciate what the residents are doing.
“I spoke to the supervisor the other day when I was dropping in some biscuits. He said word has gotten around and the officers are all asking to be stationed at the Ryan Road checkpoint.”
During the weekend, Lance Corporal Jade Garmonsway wrote a message of thanks to the Mangawhai community on Facebook.
He wrote: It can be surprisingly tiring standing on a road all day and night, but your compliance and willingness to cooperate has been appreciated – not to mention the added morale boost all your treats has given us. We hope that Covid-19 will be over as quickly as possible so everyone can get back to their daily routines.”
