Hundreds of air passengers from mainland China arrived in Auckland on Monday, but not one person volunteered to be checked by medical staff at Auckland airport.
Much of China is on high-alert for the spread of the potentially deadly coronavirus, which has killed 56 people so far.
Up to 1800 people a day arrive in Auckland and Christchurch from China on flights from Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Both cities have dozens of confirmed cases. Passengers arriving in Auckland said they would try and stay away from public places for a week or two, and wear masks as often as possible.
But health authorities say they have no powers to force people get checked for the virus, prompting calls for stricter biosecurity measures to keep people safe.
Chen Liu Chen reports.
