Judith Collins challenges the government's claim that border employees refused to take Covid-19 tests. ...
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Judith Collins challenges the government's claim that border employees refused to take Covid-19 tests.
NOW PLAYING • Focus Live: Govt Covid-19 response under attack
Judith Collins challenges the government's claim that border employees refused to take Covid-19 tests. ...
A woman says frustrations are creeping in as essential workers are battling to get through checkpoints on Auckland's borders.
However, the Government response team says changes were made yesterday and clarifications passed on to teams at the various checkpoints.
Mangawhai resident Megan Winter Kenney says while she appreciates each motorist has to be questioned, Defence Force staff at the checkpoint she uses have been asking her to supply an exemption only letter required of non-essential workers.
Despite not believing she needs it, she's applied for it but is yet to hear anything back.
Winter Kenney needs to travel 30 minutes south into Auckland to see her client each day.
She's armed with a letter from her employer, outlining her work and the fact she's an essential worker.
While she does get questioned, as expected, on Monday a Defence Force staffer told her she needed to have an exemption letter from the Government's Covid-19 website.
"I don't mind being stopped, but if I can't get the exemption to travel letter then what are they going to do? I've still been waiting two days for it.
"Even with my letter from my employer and everything else, even after yesterday being told about the exemption letter was an army guy who was also telling other people.
Winter Kenney said she thought was doing all that was needed of her, until the request was made on Monday.
"I know there's always going to be confusion and things are moving quickly, but when we're told that essential workers who present a letter [from their employer] are okay and then we're told that no, you need the exemption and then you can't get one from the email address ... what do we do?
"The main concern for me is that if spinal clients are left in their bed they can die, they can get a blood clot... it can turn really bad."
A spokesman for the Government's Covid-19 response team, said the rules for travel across the Auckland regional boundary were updated yesterday and they urged people to check the website.
"Workers who are permitted to travel do not need to provide an exemption letter, and we are ensuring that operational staff are aware of this.
"They do need to show a letter from their employer stating that they are allowed to travel, and under what category [as listed on the covid19.govt.nz website]. They should also carry photo identification so the letter can be linked to them."
