Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield is condemning the behaviour being directed at frontline workers handing out COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and is urging people to be patient.
On Thursday, Dr Bloomfield was addressing RAT wait times - saying there have been delays at some collection points due to high demand.
"The advice I would give, and it's a request really, is being patient. I know a number of staff working at these sites have actually been subjected to some quite unpleasant behaviour," he told reporters.
"It doesn't make them want to turn up to actually do it and so I'd just encourage people, as they have right through, please be patient. The staff are doing their absolute best."
Dr Bloomfield said more RAT collection points would continue opening throughout the country.
"The DHBs will continue to open up collection points and with both the community testing centres and the collections points able to provide the tests to people now, I think we're seeing plenty of tests being given out and increasing access points every day."
Demand for RATs continues to climb with nearly 150,000 COVID-19 cases now active in the community - 23,183 of which were announced on Wednesday.
RATs are currently free at testing stations for close contacts or those with symptoms, while some are starting to pop up for sale. Some supermarkets expect to stock them as early as next week.
