About 40 Queenstown businesses took possession of 32,000 rapid antigen tests (Rats) yesterday, a month after the Queenstown Airport Corporation placed an order on their behalf.
Queenstown Airport was one of 25 companies which lobbied the Government late last year to be able to import rapid antigen tests into New Zealand.
Airport chief executive Glen Sowry said as a consequence, an opportunity arose about a month ago to import more.
"The only thing was, we had to commit to in excess of a million tests."
While the airport planned to import more, Mr Sowry said it was a good opportunity to extend the offer to Queenstown businesses, allowing them to piggy-back on the airport order to help keep their staff safe and ensure they could preserve business continuity "now that we’re in peak Omicron".
"So we put a note out to CEOs of all of the major tourism businesses around Queenstown and said, ‘We’ve got 24 hours, let us know how many you’d like’ and the response was fantastic."
The airport has paid for all the Rat tests up front, and businesses were receiving them at "cost recovery".
Included in the recipients yesterday was RealNZ, which took 1000 tests.
Its chief people officer Janelle Somerville said the company planned to use the Rats for frontline staff
"It gives our staff some comfort, but it also gives our guests reassurance that the staff they’re dealing with have all tested negative and they can relax on their trip when they’re away for a few days," she said.
Mr Sowry said the airport had been using the Rats for about three months and, particularly of late, they had proven "very effective".
"We’ve got our operations staff and emergency services staff, they test themselves each morning before they come to work and they’ve actually been very effective at catching one or two cases and preventing them from coming into work, with Omicron.
"So it’s working very well."
RealNZ chief executive Stephen England-Hall said the tests would enable the company to keep their staff and guests safe, and stay on top of things as they changed.
While trading conditions of late had been "extremely tough", Mr England-Hall felt hope was on the horizon.
"We’re starting to see positive changes out there and I think that’s really good, not just for places like Queenstown but all tourism destinations across NZ.
"We’re looking forward to the day when people are back out enjoying what this incredible country has to offer."
