The case of the NPC rugby players who wrongly obtained exemptions to travel out of Auckland's level 4 lockdown is now in the hands of police, MBIE has confirmed.
New Zealand Rugby confirmed yesterday it had removed six players from provincial squads and ordered them back to Auckland after being alerted to errors in their applications for a Covid-19 travel exemption.
But NZR declined to say exactly what the errors were. The players had travelled from Auckland to Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū, Bay of Plenty and Northland after five unions applied for exemptions.
MBIE confirmed to Checkpoint the players were issued business travel documentation and these documents were immediately cancelled when NZR alerted it to the error.
Checkpoint asked the Ministry whether there was any deceit involved in the applications.
In response it said the case has now been referred to police and it could not comment further.
Checkpoint contacted all five unions involved and haven't received a response. NZ Rugby declined an interview.
It says its advice is that all health order breaches are referred to Police.
