7. Question No. 7—CustomsGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of CustomsQuestion No. 7—Customs7. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Customs: What precautions are being taken at the border to help slow the spread of COVID-19?Hon JENNY SALESA (Minister of Customs): This morning I was at Auckland international airport our country's largest passenger port to ensure our strict border measures are being enforced. There are measures in place. Passengers are being questioned; they're being stopped and required to hand over detailed information. One cannot miss the signage and the public address announcements at the airport. The responsibility of self-isolation is being made clear to all travellers. However I am concerned about the experience reported by some of our travellers which is why I physically went to Auckland Airport this morning. I saw areas where we can and should improve our overall border response and I have tasked agencies with addressing these concerns immediately.Ginny Andersen: Why isn't the Government testing people for COVID-19 at the border?Hon JENNY SALESA: Because testing people who are asymptomatic at the border will not necessarily address the issues. During the incubation period it is impossible to test for COVID-19 as per the advice we have from public health officials. Tests only work when symptoms are showing—this is the advice from the Ministry of Health and from the World Health Organization. We do not—I repeat: do not—want people entering Aotearoa New Zealand falsely believing that they do not have COVID-19 and not self-isolating for 14 days. Our instruction to travellers remains the same: self-isolation will help slow down the spread of COVID-19.Ginny Andersen: What are the consequences for those that don't follow the rules at the border?Hon JENNY SALESA: We have the full force of the law. We have the customs Act; the powers of customs. We have the powers of public health. We can fine we can detain and we can deport these people when they do not adhere to our rules.Hon Paula Bennett: Are customs giving all visitors to New Zealand a handout that they can keep giving them information on self-isolation and the rules in New Zealand?Hon JENNY SALESA: What I saw this morning at the Auckland international airport is that it is very clear as you come through. People are stopped as they come out of the international airport are asked about self-isolation—Hon Jacqui Dean: Why don't you just answer the question?Hon JENNY SALESA: —given the handout for—I am answering the question—Hon Jacqui Dean: No you're not.Hon JENNY SALESA: —given the handout for self-isolation—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. That member will stop reflecting on me. Jenny Salesa complete the answer.Hon JENNY SALESA: People are handed information on self-isolation. They then have to go through health staff again and at the customs area they are again talked to given information and asked questions about self-isolation. There is no way that you would not know about self-isolating for 14 days in New Zealand.Hon Jacqui Dean: She doesn't know.Hon JENNY SALESA: I do; I've just been visiting.Jami-Lee Ross: Why has the border not been closed to non-citizens and non-residents to help slow the spread of COVID-19?Hon JENNY SALESA: We have one of the strongest restrictions at the border compared to other countries. What the member should know is that the majority of the people coming through our border right now are New Zealanders; they're either New Zealand citizens or they're New Zealand permanent residents. We are doing as much as we can to ensure that our borders are secure.