Police hilariously respond to Wellington man's cheeky COVID-19 tinny house request

  • 19/08/2021

Kiwis can perhaps be forgiven for forgetting the rules under alert level 4 - for some of us, after all, it's been more than a year since we were last in lockdown.

Even Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had to provide a rather stern reminder to some retailers accused of falling foul of the level 4 rules about what does and doesn't count as 'essential' business activity.

It's only natural then that we might look to the knowledge of others to see if we can still buy the products we want at this level, or if our favourite shops are open - which is what one hopeful Wellington man did on Wednesday.

"Does anyone know if the tinny house in Aro will be open during level 4?" he asked community Facebook page Vic Deals.

Police hilariously respond to Wellington man's cheeky COVID-19 tinny house request

The question prompted plenty of laugh reactions from fellow cannabis users in the capital, one of whom shared a Photoshopped Unite Against COVID-19 poster showing you're allowed to use your car to buy weed.

But others suspected he was a police officer.

"No officer, we don't know," wrote one.

"Sounds like something a cop would ask," said another.

Some weren't sure if the tinny house was still in operation at alert level 4, but offered up their own spots as alternatives.

"Naenae is haere mai," said one, with another adding that theirs would be "dealing from their car in the supermarket car park".

Later, Wellington District Police weighed in with the eyes emoji (👀), showing they had been watching the post and the comments unfold the whole time.

Police hilariously respond to Wellington man's cheeky COVID-19 tinny house request

"Best comment," someone replied.

Just to be clear: no, at alert level 4, you can't visit your local tinny house.

Not only are tinny houses not essential, but cannabis remains illegal after a referendum on whether to legalise it went marginally in favour of the 'no' campaign last year.