Michael Kappeler/AP
Overseas vaccine certificates, such as the German pass, won’t work in New Zealand.
Businesses and events won’t be able to use the Government’s vaccination pass verifier app to scan the certificates of overseas tourists when international borders open.
The verifier developed by New Zealand company MATTR – to specifications requested by the Ministry of Health – can only scan this country’s My Vaccine Pass.
It’s likely border officials will have to verify international travellers’ vaccination status on their arrival into New Zealand, before adding them to the national Covid-19 Immunisation Register (CIR) and issuing them a local My Vaccine Pass.
But the actual process for international travellers is yet to be decided.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19: Customers trialling vaccine passes ahead of traffic light system roll-out
* Covid vaccine pass: Your questions answered and all the key details you need to know
* Covid-19: How New Zealand vaccine passes will work and how to get one
It’s already been decided that New Zealand citizens or residents returning to New Zealand can have their overseas-administered inoculations added to the Immunisation Register.
But the Ministry of Health said that process can take up to two weeks.
”New Zealand has a separate QR code for international travel vaccine certificates, which will be recognised by international jurisdictions and are for travel purposes only, and the same will apply for someone coming into New Zealand with an international vaccine certificate,” a Ministry of Health spokesperson said in a statement. “It will not be recognised by the My Vaccine Pass verifier.”
Marisa Bidois, chief executive of the Restaurant Association, said members have been seeking clarity over how vaccines passes will work for incoming tourists.
“It would be far more…