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Media release from the Taxpayers' Union

MEDIA RELEASE

Bloomfield should have turned down VIP cricket experience

10 MARCH 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The Director-General of Health should have declined his VIP cricket invitation, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.
 
Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “Dr Bloomfield would have known perfectly well that his VIP invitation was due to his position, and that he would likely be lobbied. He should have taken steps to avoid any perception of a ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ situation.”
 
“The safest course of action would have been to decline the invitation, or at least pay for his own ticket. At the very least, Dr Bloomfield should have directed lobbying efforts to the relevant Ministers, who are at least elected officials and are directly accountable to the public.”
 
“Taxpayers who fund the vaccine rollout need confidence that it will be targeted in a way that serves the general public interest. As it stands, Dr Bloomfield has put the Government in a difficult position – they may have good public health reasons to prioritise vaccines for international cricket players, but now if they do that they risk backlash for the conflict of interest.”

ENDS

ENQUIRIES:
Louis Houlbrooke 
021 950 191

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is an independent and membership-driven activist group, dedicated to being the voice for Kiwi taxpayers in the corridors of power. Its mission, lower taxes, less waste, more transparency, is supported by 40,000 subscribed members and supporters.

The Taxpayers' Union operates a 24-hour media line for comment on taxpayer issues. Representatives are available on (04) 282 0302.

High-resolution images and logos are available on request or online at http://www.taxpayers.org.nz/resources

The Taxpayers' Union is a member of World Taxpayers Associations - the global network of taxpayers groups working together for lower taxes, limited and accountable government, and taxpayer rights all over the world.