Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall says it is unacceptable pacific people were asked to present their passports when arriving for Covid-19 vaccine appointments.
The Bay of Plenty DHB has apologised to Pasifika community for wrongly requesting passports to be presented.
Last night, following reports from the Pasifika community, the Bay of Plenty District Health Board issued an apology on its Facebook page, which says:
"We unreservedly apologise for the distress and hurt caused to our Pasifika community as a result of a request for passports to be presented at COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
"This is not our policy, nor a requirement, and we are deeply disappointed that this has happened."
Dr Verrall told Morning Report she cannot think of a reason why the passports were requested.
"It certainly makes the people who we're calling to come in for vaccination feel unwelcome or stigmatized and it should not happen."
She said passports are not required for any part of the Covid-19 response, including vaccination, testing or contact tracing.
Devonport returns positive result
Dr Ayesha Verrall also confirmed wastewater testing at the Devonport naval base in Auckland has returned a positive Covid-19 result.
Devonport is where the first positive case in this current outbreak lives.
Devonport Naval Base Photo: RNZ
Dr Verrall told Morning Report results are being investigated further by public health.
"All of those need to be investigated but you're aware that these do happen from time to time, and sometimes are not the result of infectious cases.
"So, it just means that a process needs to be gone through with respect to investigating it."
The base is reported to be in lockdown.
