Northern Region DHBs have apologised after a community testing centre (CTC) in central Auckland disrupted traffic and caused a local business owner to threaten to tow drivers waiting for a test.
Police had to be called to resolve the situation at the Eden Terrace testing centre after approximately 75 drivers turned up waiting for a test within a 90-minute period on Monday morning.
It's understood the influx of drivers caused a major traffic disruption on New North Rd, leading some drivers to wait in the car park of local business Soar Printing to avoid blocking other motorists driving through the area.
This angered staff, one of whom told Newshub they needed the car park clear so that Soar's employees, customers and couriers could access the site.
One witness, an international flight attendant who is required to undergo a test each time she travels overseas, said she waited more than an hour in the queue.
She filmed one of the company's executives speaking to various drivers in the car park. While the video is unclear, she claims he was "abusing people wanting to be tested and threatening to call tow trucks and police".
"He was also trying to move the COVID testing signs off the street and away from his business," she said.
"Some people were leaving, some were refusing to move because then they lose their place in line. It's not the best place to have a testing station."
A Soar Printing staffer confirmed police had been called to the scene, and that after discussions with Northern Region DHB staff, testing centre workers had agreed to shift locations.
While police declined to comment, Soar Printing told Newshub they were pleased with the resolution.
Northern Region DHBs - which represents the Northland, Waitematā, Auckland and Counties Manukau areas - said testing centre staff did not instruct anyone to use the car park.
"This sudden spike in demand led to an unusually long queue and people took it upon themselves to park and wait in the car park of a neighbouring business," a spokesperson said.
"We do not support people using private property while they wait to get tested."
However they have taken responsibility for the inconvenience the testing centre caused to the local community.
"We are aware of the impact this had on the neighbouring business and have apologised for the disruption it caused," a spokesperson said.
"The provider who runs the Eden Terrace CTC has also made an urgent request to Auckland Transport to apply for additional parking for the site. All four of Auckland's CTCs have traffic management plans in place which are regularly reviewed and updated.
"Our message to the public is that we have capacity to test everyone who needs to be tested for COVID-19 but they should be prepared to wait longer than usual at times of high demand. Our CTC teams are doing an incredible job to test people as quickly as possible."
