The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it will add Taiwan to the COVID overseas vaccination list after receiving backlash from Kiwis on social media.
New Zealanders living anywhere in the world can now return without having to do home isolation, but Kiwis living in Taiwan have come across a problem.
Part of the process for returning is obtaining a COVID vaccination pass to prove when, where and which vaccine you had.
On the Ministry of Health's overseas vaccine submission form, it asks where you received your COVID vaccines.
In the drop-down list, Taiwan isn't offered and Kiwis have been told to register their location as China. That's despite Taiwan being offered as an option on other sites, like Immigration New Zealand.
"When we go to load our vaccine details into our NZ Vaccine Pass we discover there is no option in the drop-down menu for Taiwan. The Ministry of Health says we must register as having taken our shots in China," one person told Newshub.
"Not only is this extremely insulting to both Taiwanese and New Zealand long-term residents here, but there's also the awkward fact that the vaccines administered in Taiwan have not even been authorised in China.
"This includes the Taiwanese domestic vaccine Medigen which is recognized by New Zealand. Taiwan and China have separate health and legal systems."
Taiwan has been self-ruled since splitting from mainland China during the 1949 civil war. But China claims the island is part of its territory and has threatened to annex it, while also applying pressure on other countries and companies not to recognise Taiwan as an independent country.
New Zealand has a strong trading, economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan, but does not main any diplomatic relations with the island.
The Ministry of Health told Newshub on Sunday it would updating its country/territory list on the website to include Taiwan
"We are aware that an online form was set up using options from an incorrect International Standards Organisation (ISO) list of place names," a spokesperson told Newshub.
"This meant people in Taiwan/Chinese Taipei have been unable to complete the form accurately. We are working to update the form so it aligns with the correct ISO list of place names."
The backlash has also been seen on Twitter with Kiwis slamming the health ministry for not listing Taiwan.
One person said: "How could I forget to tag .@covid19nz !! Unite against Covid 19 except if you’re from Taiwan amiright guys!!"
Another person said on Twitter: "What next, will NZ govt be recording Ukraine as Russia? Have some guts people. Taiwan should be cherished. A peaceful and tech advanced democracy with fascinating ancestral and cultural links between their indigenous Tribes and Māori people."
