There will soon be a thicker blue line at the Waikato/Auckland boundary.

Police reinforcements from around the country have arrived in Hamilton to support enforcement efforts at the ten checkpoints separating the Waikato region from Auckland, which is still in Alert Level 4 lockdown due to the Covid-19 community outbreak there.

A total 45 staff from the Southern, Canterbury, Tasman, Central, Bay of Plenty and Wellington police districts made their way to Hamilton on Friday – 32 of whom flew in on a specially chartered air force C-130 Hercules

Staff from the Royal New Zealand Police College are part of the contingent, the first of three groups of that will 'rotate” in to provide relief for checkpoint staff and ensure that Level 4 enforcement in Tamaki Makaurau continues.

Auckland will remain in alert level 4 until at least September 14. The rest of New Zealand is in level 2 – and the two zones must be kept apart to prevent the virus spreading outside of the northern metropolis.

Waikato Police District Commander Bruce Bird was on hand at Hamilton Airport to welcome those on the Hercules on Friday evening.

'These officers will be accommodated in Level 2 Waikato and work on the Level 2 side of the boundary,” says District Commander Bird.

'We are grateful to these officers from around the country for providing assistance during a very busy time for the upper north districts.

'Our colleagues in Tamaki Makaurau still have a big job ahead with Alert Level 4 enforcement still a key focus for them, as well as the checkpoints which are playing a big part of the reassurance we provide to communities on both sides of the boundary.”

A total 45 staff from the Southern, Canterbury, Tasman, Central, Bay of Plenty and Wellington police districts made their way to Hamilton on Friday, 32 of whom flew in on a specially chartered flight.Photo: Christel Yardley/Stuff/Waikato Times.

The police reinforcements will bolster a boundary that is occasionally suffering breakthroughs by people from both sides.

The 27-year-old man allegedly drove through the southern checkpoint at Mercer on Wednesday morning, before heading to a home in Kelston, West Auckland, where he allegedly assaulted and injured two police officers.

​​​​​​​Waikato Police District Commander Bruce Bird (left) was on hand at Hamilton Airport to welcome those on the Hercules on Friday evening. Photo: Christel Yardley/Stuff/Waikato Times.

The police reinforcements will bolster a boundary that is occasionally suffering breakthroughs by interlopers from both sides.

He was arrested and charged with failing to stop, driving while suspended, and three counts of aggravated assault.

A 60-year-old woman at the house was also charged with assaulting and obstructing police.

From 11.59pm on September 16, those crossing the Auckland regional border will require evidence of a negative Covid-19 test in the previous seven days.

Mike Mather/Stuff