An Auckland couple who escaped lockdown to Wanaka have been granted interim name suppression -- and a telling off from the Prime Minister

Interim name suppression was granted via an urgent teleconference last night, to allow their lawyer to apply to the High Court for suppression of a longer duration today.

The two people were dobbed in after using their "essential worker" exemptions to leave Auckland, fly from Hamilton to Queenstown, and then travel to the holiday home in Wanaka.

Jacinda Ardern doesn't want to speak specifically to the case, but says the rules are not there to be gamed.

She says Aucklanders will take a very dim view of other Aucklanders who aren't doing their bit.