The $6.4m NZ Covid Tracer app: Experts' verdict on its cost, how it compares to overseas 12 Feb, 2021 04:30 AM 7 minutes to read The Ministry of Health has revealed spending on the NZ Covid Tracer app reached $6.4 million by the end of 2020 (see table below). Read More The Herald First revealed that Auckland app developer Rush Digital was the MoH's development partner for the NZ Covid Tracer. Rush chief executive Pavan Vyas said his company had up to 15 staff working on the app at any one time. The NZ Covid Tracer was first released on May 20. Its immediate launch was marked by confusion, as people tried to use it to scan posters for various private efforts to create a contact-tracing system, some of which had been in the market since March.