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Dr. Ashley Bloomfield apologized for accepting tickets to a Black Caps match, after being pressured to access the Covid-19 vaccine in-game.
Bloomfield has faced questions this week about his attendance at the Black Caps match, where Cricket NZ pressured him to get early access to the Covid-19 vaccine, so their cricketers could attend matches abroad.
The director general of health had said that he attended the game in a “private capacity”, but on Thursday issued a statement in which he said: “I was wrong.”
“I acknowledge that the invitation was extended to me because I am in that position. It is important that you avoid any potential perception of a conflict of interest or personal benefit, ”he said.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Dr. Ashley Bloomfield in Parliament on Wednesday.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19: NZ Cricket still awaits a ‘definitive answer’ from the government on Black Caps vaccines
* Covid-19: Unions and NGOs Call on Prime Minister to Endorse Removal of Vaccine Patent Protections
* The Pakistan cricket squad was denied exemption to train while isolated in Christchurch.
I thought I was acting within the Public Service Commission Guidelines on the Gift, Benefits and Expense guidelines for CEOs.
By rereading the guidelines, I now agree that declaring the complimentary game tickets in a gift registry was insufficient and that they should have been rejected, as they will be from now on.
”I have clarified this with the Public Service Commissioner.
“I have donated the ticket price, and also the ticket price for two Hurricanes games last year (also stated above), to Wellington City Mission.”
Sooner
