People won't be punished for bringing rapid antigen tests (RATs) into the country once the borders open next week, the Health Minister says.
There have been concerns the self-directed COVID testing kits could be seized at the border when New Zealand citizens from Australia start returning home on Monday - amid reports of other Kiwis being blocked from bringing in shipments of rapid tests.
"When those people are allowed to come home on the 28th; they've been buying rapid antigen tests in the supermarket in Australia, is Customs going to search their bags and take their rapid antigen tests off them? Because if they are, I think that shows how absurd the situation is and if they're not, they might as well let everyone import them," ACT Party leader David Seymour told AM Early on Thursday.
But Little said returning Kiwis can bring rapid antigen tests with them.
"If people bring whatever they bring, as long as it's not contraband, they can bring them across the border - including RaT tests," he said. "If travellers bring in any RAT kits, that's a matter for them.
And despite some Kiwis struggling to access RATs, Little is confident there is enough stock in New Zealand.
"I think what we have, in this country, is made sure that the RAT tests that are available… have been checked and approved by the [health] ministry as reliable," Little told AM.
"The problem with RAT tests is we know that generally speaking, they have about an 80 percent accuracy rate - you want to make sure that the best RAT tests are available because even with that level of accuracy, that still poses some challenges.
"We want to get the best RAT kits available and they will be the ones available in New Zealand."
RaTs will be rolled out more widely across New Zealand in the coming days - with the country set to enter phase 3 of the Government's Omicron plan.
There are 6.9 million RATs currently in New Zealand with another 14.7 million due to arrive by the end of this month. Only 11 RAT products have been approved here, while Australia has approved 26.
"The Ministry of Health has managed to get quite a few million RAT kits across the border to be available for testing - we want to make sure those who need RAT kits are getting them," Little said.
ACT and National have long been calling for RATs to be available for everyone. Seymour said the Government faces some big decisions.
He said the rules of the Government's phase 3 Omicron plan, including a 10-day isolation period, are unworkable; "particularly when you still don't have a supply of rapid antigen tests to let people out of isolation early".
Currently, only critical workers who are close contacts can complete a RAT and return to work if it's negative.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins will announce the next steps in the Omicron response during a press conference at midday.
