6. Question No. 6—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 6—Health6. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Are the same 2019 novel coronavirus screening processes in place for all flights from China as announced on 26 January 2020 also in place at airports and ports that receive passengers from affected areas that have not arrived directly from China? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Health: Health staff are meeting all direct flights from China and can meet any international passenger regardless of where their flight originates. No one other than New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who has been in China since travel restrictions were introduced is currently being allowed into New Zealand and anyone on any flight who is identified at the airport—and passports are all being checked—as having been in Mainland China from midnight on 2 February that isn't on a direct flight from Mainland China will be treated exactly the same as people who arrive on direct flights. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Are there health staff meeting all ships and flights with passengers arriving from outbreak areas and if not why did she effectively answer yes to that in the primary question? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Mr Speaker the answer might be a little bit longer. There is a complex set of arrangements in place that identifies that anyone who's been in the affected area will be met by public health staff—yes. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree that if health staff are available at Auckland and Christchurch airports and not available at any other port or airport in New Zealand then those screening processes are clearly not the same? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: What the member might not appreciate is that the only flights coming into airports outside of Auckland and Christchurch are coming through Australia and Australia has the same checks in place as New Zealand. Outside of Auckland Wellington and Christchurch the only commercial flights that I'm aware of arriving at airports in New Zealand have been tracked through Australia where they have the exact same screening processes and in fact are not allowing New Zealand citizens or residents who are not normally resident in Australia to transit. Hon Michael Woodhouse: What does she say to traveller Harry Flett who said of the screening process You could have said you were feeling fine [but] have a raging fever and they would have let you through."? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: With all due respect to anecdotes that are being reported in the media I don't think that they paint the full picture. Clearly that person did not have a raging fever and so is speculating. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he believe the reason health officials now have to track down 4000 people who haven't registered with the coronavirus healthline is because none of the written material available at airports actually asks them to? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I am confident that health officials are acting under the best advice. We are reviewing our border response in light of the best evidence science and medical advice in a rapidly evolving situation. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he received any advice from his Associate Minister Julie Anne Genter on how to manage the outbreak based on her experience with the measles outbreak last year? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: On behalf of the Minister I can assure the member that the health Minister works very closely with his Associate Ministers and we're very proud of the fact that we're finally launching the catch-up campaign—that the previous Government never did—to finally address under-immunisation in respect of measles."