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Police say they are "generally pleased" with motorists' compliance at regional checkpoints on the first day of alert level 3 for those outside Auckland.

Officers at Auckland's border south of the city reported limited issues overnight.

"Police were generally pleased with the compliance and most members of our community had the correct documentation ready to show police," said Inspector Kay Lane, of Counties Manukau police.

Authorities are due to release the official number of vehicles that have gone through the checkpoints since the alert level change and those cars that were turned around at the border.

"But we can say the numbers were fairly low and only a small number were turned around," Lane said.

"We are expecting more numbers through the checkpoints today but so far there are minimal wait times."

Freedom has returned, albeit limited, to much of the country but our top expert says New Zealand is not out of the woods yet and hard work is still needed to beat the Delta outbreak.