Source: Taxpayers Union
11 MARCH 2021FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEResponding to the Director-General of Health’s apology for accepting free VIP tickets to the Black Caps, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:“Good on him. His public apology echoes almost exactly the point we raised yesterday: it’s vital that our public servants decline any perks that could create a conflict of interest, or even just a perception of one.”“Dr Bloomfield’s turnaround on this issue is important because it sets a precedent. New Zealand’s highest-profile, and perhaps best-respected, public servant has publicly acknowledged how corporate gifts can erode officials’ capacity serve all taxpayers in a fair and neutral way. Other public sector leaders must follow his lead.”
