No evidence of fake tests: PM

The Government has seen “no evidence” of people using fake Covid-19 tests to get into New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

But Act leader David Seymour is questioning that claim.

“There will be people that try to defraud any system,” he said, and New Zealand’s pre-departure testing rules would be no exception.

University of Auckland microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles yesterday revealed she has been made aware of someone who was offered a fake negative predeparture test certificate for a fee.

“Someone got in touch with me to tell me a relative of theirs had been offered one in France but declined.”

She had “no doubt” that people overseas will be offering fake negative pre-departure tests to New Zealand returnees.

Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker was sounding a similar warning.

Earlier Ministry of Health data revealed a significant number of arrivals have tested positive for Covid-19 on day 0/1 despite a negative pre-departure test.

Speaking to media yesterday, Ardern said: “We haven’t seen evidence of fraud when it comes to providing testing data at the border.”

But she pointed out the rules state people need a pre-departure test, meaning there is a 72-hour period where travellers can still come in contact with Covid-19.