DAIRIES GET VACCINATION PRIORITY AS CRIME SPIKES

As New Zealand prepares for split Covid Alert Levels 3 and 4, dairy 
owners, workers and family members have been granted vaccination 
priority as dairy owners deal with the worst and best parts of New 
Zealand society.

“We wish to give a bouquet to both Countdown and to the Ministry of 
Health,” says Sunny Kaushal, Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners 
Group.

“It has been recognised that our people are definitely on the Covid-19 
frontline. Out of 504 locations of interest, 10 now involve dairies 
and service stations.

“It might have taken a week since we first asked for vaccination 
priority, but dairies no have vaccination priority. We’d like to thank 
Countdown for interceding on our behalf with the Ministry of
Health.  This is the grocery sector, big and small, acting as one team 
for the team of 5 Million.

"Registered stores have been emailed and non-registered stores are 
asked to register at www.dairyowners.org.nz so that we can provide 
details over how to secure vaccination priority.

“This positive step forward comes sadly after an Auckland dairy, run 
by elderly owners, was ram raided with that store suffering 
catastrophic damage.  There’s something sick that criminals would do 
this at all and especially when their fellow Kiwi are struggling to 
get hold of the basics.

“Both the Dairy and Business Owners Group and the Crime Prevention 
Group believe that the Independent Police Conduct Authority needs to 
see its mandate changed. There's too much focus on complaints against 
our hard-working Police instead of directing better policing in 
support of law-abiding citizens and small businesses.

“At the other end of the spectrum, a dairy owner in Masterton has told 
us how pleased they are over the public support they have had from the 
communities that their two dairies serve. Kiwis appreciative of the 
hard work that dairy owners put in.

“For non-dairy and service station businesses, we are asking for the 
Government to repeat the business Resurgence Support Payment Business 
Resurgence Payment every two weeks during Level 4 and Level 3.

"The one-off sums so far would barely cover a week’s outgoings for 
many retail businesses. These are businesses that will continue to be 
closed under Level-4 and will have sharply reduced revenue under 
Level-3 with the risk of more lockdowns ever-present,” Mr Kaushal added.