Video / NZ Herald / AP / GettyAn expert is condemning NZ Customs' decision to randomly check proof of Australian travellers' negative pre-departure Covid tests, despite it being a mandatory requirement to enter the country. Travellers from Australia, except those from New South Wales where quarantine-free travel to Aotearoa is paused, are required to test negative for the virus before arrival. A NZ Customs spokeswoman confirmed pre-departure Covid tests were subject to "random validation" - meaning not everyone was checked for evidence of a negative test when they arrived in the country. Act Party leader David Seymour said his calls for a specialised Covid response unit, which worked in conjunction with private business, had fallen on deaf ears. After paying more than $900 for Covid tests, Rochelle was not asked at any stage to provide evidence of the whānau's negative tests.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 13, 2021 17:03 UTC