New Zealand border workers are a key line of defence in helping New Zealand safe from COVID-19. The Required Testing Order is part of keeping COVID-19 out of the country, and the government has been working to refine the approach,
The first phase of stakeholder engagement on improving the implementation of the Required Testing Order is coming to a close, with the final piece of this phase being an interview with marine pilots.
A number of issues have been identified through the engagement which Maritime NZ and the Ministry of Health are turning into a work programme. These include:
- An alternative to deep nasal testing for those who are regulary tested;
- Identifying all people who board a ship;
- Improving processes for New Zealand workers who stay on a ship over night;
- Developing consistency around supplying clearance of a ship to shipping agents.
There has also been additional engagement on a proposal portal, aimed at simplifying the process for employers and workers to be able to maintain the status of high risk workers, and notifying those workers when tests are due.
A Proof of Concept process has commenced with Wellington MIQs and it is expected to continue to roll out across the country to interested employers post POC updates.
