A Covid-19 modelling expert says moving Auckland alert level 3 is a “calculated risk” and we could easily bounce back to level 4 in a matter of weeks. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon, after a five-week strict…

A New Zealand pair has been arrested after allegedly trying to cross the border into Auckland with NZ$100,000 ($97,106.64) in cash and a "boot full" of KFC.

A police spokesperson said the two gang associates were caught trying to enter Auckland's southern boundary on Sunday.

Officers allegedly noticed a suspicious looking car travelling on a gravel road and upon seeing the police car, the drive did a U-turn and sped off.

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The car eventually pulled over and police found out the pair had come from Hamilton.

The car was searched and police allegedly found the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large amount of takeaways, police said.

The men, aged 23 and 30, will appear in court at a later date for breaching the Health Order and further charges were likely, the spokesperson said.

Another incident occurred at Auckland's northern boundary, where a man claimed he wanted to cross the border to charge his electric vehicle, despite there not being a charging station where he was going.

READ MORE: Body found in FBI search for missing US woman Gabby Petito

He was turned around by police.

"Police want to remind the public that police will continue to stop and question motorists travelling through the checkpoints, and action will be considered for people deliberately attempting to breach the restrictions."

Since alert level four came into place, 86 people had been charged with a total of 90 offences as of Sunday 5pm.

Of those, 73 were for failing to comply with a COVID-19 order, 14 for failure to comply with a direction or restriction, one for failing to stop, and two for assaulting, threatening, hindering or obstructing an enforcement officer.

In the same time period, 183 people were formally warned for a range of offences, while police have received 9767 breach notifications relating to businesses, mass gatherings of people in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Since checkpoints were put in place, 180,339 vehicles had been stopped at the borders as of 11.59pm on Sunday.

A total of 2286 vehicles had been turned around during that time.

This article initially appeared on Stuff.co.nz and is republished here with permission.

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Four police station counters in Melbourne's western suburbs have temporarily closed after six police officers tested positive to COVID-19.

Victoria Police in a statement confirmed Caroline Springs, Melton, Keilor Downs and Sunshine police stations had temporarily closed reception counters to the public after the officers contracted the virus between September 17-19.

"The officers were immediately informed to safely isolate and their work areas have undergone a deep clean," the statement read.

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"The reception closure allows for more police to be out on the road while some officers are safely isolating due to the coronavirus exposure.

"Victoria Police's priority first and foremost is to ensure the safety of its people and the community."

Police will still work from the stations, actively patrolling the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Nearby police stations Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne, Sunbury and Footscray will remain open to the public.

Police encourage the community to contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or use the online reporting service for non-urgent matters.

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The father of missing US woman Gabby Petito has taken to social media to share a touching image of his daughter, following the discovery of body in Wyoming today that police believe to be that of the 22-year-old.

Joseph Petito posted an image of Ms Petito standing in front of a painted set of wings beside the caption "she touched the world" and a heartbroken emoji.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-9news-lunch-podcast/sept-20-morrison-jets-out-of-australia-fbi-breakth/embed?style=cover

The Petito and Schmidt family lawyer Richard Benson Stafford also issued a statement this morning, asking for privacy while the family grieve the loss of their daughter.

READ MORE: Gabby Petito argued with boyfriend before vanishing, bodycam shows

https://twitter.com/josephpetito/status/1439716307268739072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I am making a personal request to members of the press and news media to refrain from contacting the Schmidt and Petito family," Mr Benson Stafford said.

"Due to today's developments, we are asking the press and news media to have some decorum and sensitivity for Gabby's family and allow them to grieve.

"I will be in contact with you when Gabby's family is ready to make a public statement.

"I would also like to personally thank the FBI, the Suffolk County Police Department, the North Port Police Department and especially the Grant Teton Search and Rescue team.

"Your tireless work and determination helped bring Gabby home to her parents. The family and I will be forever grateful."

Earlier today (Sunday US time) police searching in national parklands in Wyoming found a body believed to be Ms Petito.

Although the body is yet to be formally identified, FBI Denver supervisory senior resident Charles Jones told reporters the remains were consistent with a description of Ms Petito and her family had been notified.

The cause of death is not known at this time.

Steven Bertolino, the lawyer of Ms Petito's boyfriend Brian Laundrie, has also issued a statement following discovery of the body.

"The news about Gabby Petito is heartbreaking. The Laundrie family prays for Gabby and her family," Mr Bertolino said.

The body was found in the Grand Teton National Park, the same general area where law enforcement had been searching for the 22-year-old.

"First and foremost, on behalf of the FBI personnel and our partners, I would like to extend sincere, sincere and heartfelt condolences to Gabby's family," Mr Jones said.

"As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We ask that you all respect the privacy as they mourn the loss of their daughter."

Over the weekend, police were also searching in Florida for Ms Petito's 23-year-old boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who has been named a person of interest in her disappearance.

Mr Laundrie and Ms Petito, 22, left in July on a cross-country trek in a converted van to visit national parks in the US West.

Police said Mr Laundrie was alone when he drove the van back to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, on September 1.

Ms Petito's family filed a missing persons report September 11 with police in Suffolk County, New York.

"It is important to note that while Brian is a person of interest in Gabby's disappearance, he is not wanted for a crime," North Port police said in a statement. It added that the investigation is now a "multiple missing person" case.

Mr Laundrie's family members told investigators that the last time they saw him was on Tuesday when they believe he went to the wildlife reserve in the Sarasota area.

Ms Petito's family had been pleading for the Laundrie family to tell them where their son last saw her.

Ms Petito and Mr Laundrie were childhood sweethearts who met while growing up on Long Island, New York. His parents later moved to North Port, about 55 kilometres south of Sarasota.

The couple's trek in the Fort Transit van began in July from Long Island. They intended to reach Oregon by the end of October according to their social media accounts, but Ms Petito vanished after her last known contact with family in late August from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, authorities said.

The FBI in Denver said Saturday that agents have begun conducting ground surveys at Grand Teton National Park, with help from the National Park Service and local law enforcement agencies, seeking clues to Ms Petito's disappearance.

FBI agents tweeted that they were focusing on an undeveloped camping area near Spread Creek on the east boundary of the park, which was closed to the public during the surveys.

They urged anybody who had been there between Aug. 27 and 30, and had seen Ms Petito, Mr Laundrie or their vehicle, to contact them.

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