As thousands head to Northland for Waitangi weekend, local iwi Ngāti Kuri is urging holidaymakers at campsites to take care for the environment. The iwi runs several campsites in the remote Far North, including at Spirits Bay. Even with closed borders the campground has seen record numbers of visitors over summer. Even though New Zealand remains at Covid-19 alert level 1, the iwi is cautiously operating what it calls alert level 1.5. Tents are spaced further apart and payments are contactless. Ngāti Kuri executive trustee Sheridan Waitai told Checkpoint there is still room for more guests, but the pollution left by visitors has been discouraging.