The first fines for non-compliance with Covid-19 testing requirements were issued in July 2021 to 18 border workers. Routine Covid-19 testing had been mandatory for workers in specific roles at New Zealand’s sea and air borders and at MIQ facilities since August 2020.
The Ministry of Health’s director of public health Caroline McElnay said moving from monitoring to enforcement was a precautionary but necessary approach to keep Covid-19 out of the community, the New Zealand Herald reported at the time.
What is more sinister than the penalties for not complying with diktats to use tests – which are unable to detect live infection and are therefore meaningless in controlling the spread of an infectious disease – are the threats noted at the bottom of the penalty notice:
“If you don’t pay or arrange payment the court can:
- issue a warrant for your arrest
- Suspend your driver’s licence
- Seize and sell your property, or take money from your income or bank account
- Report your overdue fine as part of your credit reference check – meaning you may or may not be able to get a loan, credit card or hire purchase
- Restrict your ability to sell property
- Stop you from travelling overseas”...<<<Read More>>>...