Queenstown Airport is part of a coalition of 25 New Zealand businesses which has received the green light from the government to import rapid antigen tests, which test for Covid-19, in critical workplaces.

The tests will allow rapid surveillance testing to get underway in New Zealand, providing an additional layer of health protection for employees and helping to ensure workplace continuity, the coalition said.

The coalition of businesses has confirmed a $3M-plus order for 300,000 Abbott PanBio Covid-19 Ag Rapid tests to be imported into New Zealand, after the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry of Health gave their support for trials to begin.

Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry said it was important that Queenstown Airport worked alongside some of New Zealand’s largest companies on systems to bolster business’ response to Covid-19.

“Alongside vaccination, efficient and accessible testing is key to ensuring we get our economy moving and reconnect with the world, while keeping people safe."

Queenstown Airport CEO Glen Sowry

“This type of testing is used extensively in many countries and is proving to be a very efficient, less invasive and reliable way of monitoring for Covid-19 cases. It makes sense to implement the same programme here to manage risk in a timely way.”

Glen said by participating in the coalition Queenstown Airport will ensure it will have testing kits available to introduce rapid antigen testing for the airport team when required.

The rapid antigen tests won’t take the place of PCR tests (another type of Covid-19 testing) for border workers or those who are experiencing symptoms but will be an important part of wider surveillance testing in New Zealand.

The rapid antigen tests are expected to start arriving in New Zealand from October 21.

The companies taking part in the trial include Queenstown Airport, Spark, Mainfreight, Foodstuffs North Island, Genesis, Hynds Pipe Systems, Mercury, Summerset Group, Wellington Airport, Christchurch Airport, Sky NZ, Vodafone, The Warehouse Group, ANZ Bank, Contact Energy, Fulton Hogan, Countdown/Woolworths NZ, Fletcher Building, Carter Holt Harvey, Meridian Energy, DHL Express NZ, Air New Zealand, and Auckland Airport. 

PHOTOS: Supplied