Dairies Left In The Cold As ‘Essential Workers’

Despite writing to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health,
dairy owners have had no contact regarding vaccinations as essential
workers.

“Nearly one in five Kiwis shop at dairies and during lockdowns that
spikes because it prevents unnecessary trips and queues at
supermarkets,” says Sunny Kaushal, chair of the Dairy and Business
Owners Group.

“We have written to the Prime Minister and Minister of Health asking
for vaccination priority. We have had no contact aside from the usual
acknowledgment despite dairies and independent service stations being
key workers.

“Instead, all we hear about, via the media, is a single ‘drive-thru’
vaccination centre for supermarket workers and bus drivers. We would
have thought drivers would have been done by now.

“This also shows very little understanding of how small business operates.

“Dairy owners can’t just shoot off to South Auckland if their business
is in Pukekohe or Helensville because that closes the store Kiwis
need. It also leaves those shops vulnerable to criminals and there
has been a spike in dairy crime.

"We are certain the Prime Minister does not wish to leave the
impression that dairies are an afterthought.

“There are many ways to do this. For starters, how about working with
GPs and Pharmacies who are trained vaccinators to vaccinate essential
workers locally. Another is a Uber-like booking system for "mobile
vaccinators" to come to those key workers who can't get away but in a
planned orderly way.

"This helps to keep people in community bubbles instead of
congregating them at a mass event.

“What about Johnsonville and Miramar in Wellington and getting ahead
of the curve?

“Separately, we asked the Prime Minister to look at other businesses
we represent, the ones forced to close, forced to ditch perishable
stock and forced to pay rent, gas power and rates.

"Especially as things are getting worse and not better.

“It would be nice to think councils would grant us rate credits this
time around with government meeting us halfway on costs for something
we have no control of and was not our fault. This is causing huge
amounts of stress on business owners and their families as they need
kindness too,” Mr Kaushal said.

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