ACT says $531 million spent on unused Covid tests is money down the drain.

Our newsroom can reveal Te Whatu Ora has almost 60 million rapid antigen tests in stock around the country.

About 30 percent of them have already expired or are due to expire by month's end.

ACT's deputy leader Brooke van Velden says this shows total disregard for the good use of taxpayers' money.

She says the half-a-billion dollars could have been spent on a 10,000 pay rise for every nurse.

Te Whatu Ora says it's considering approaching the market to look at options for getting rid of unused tests.

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