In my view, it is because it has become a perk of the job.
As for the regional council's of explanation "low carbon catering ... organisational emissions", well I might have to spend some time digesting that one.
Lesley Haddon
Rotorua
Ratepayers footing bill
Re your article, "Councils, district health board meeting catering costs $225,000 in two years" (News, January 13).
When I was still in business my staff always brought their lunch to work.
Never did I hear of other employers catering for their staff, and this applies even more if others, such as ratepayers or taxpayers, have to foot the bill. (Abridged)
Harry Brasser
Rotorua
Vaccines
Dad always said that "charity begins at home" and while today I hesitate to totally endorse that sentiment, there are certainly times when I do agree.
The UN-backed initiative known as Covax which aims to deliver affordable vaccines to poorer and developing countries is struggling for support from the obviously richer nations to address these needs.
New Zealand, from memory, has reserved and paid for something like five million doses of three different vaccines to protect firstly our most vulnerable from the Covid virus and there are few who would dispute such a move.
There are some however who shout "foul" at this and puritanically tell us to look after those weaker first.
Noble sentiments indeed, but the reality is that developed countries themselves need to be strong and healthy before they can truly help.
Never, from a base of weakness, will we be in a position to offer mass aid commensurate with the needs and while we've all heard stories of very poor people (by our standards) offering their very last in hospitality, this is almost always framed by their Christian faith.
Jesus said it is better to give than receive and I totally agree, but in a world that actively and often violently disagrees, sadly governments will strive to protect their own first.
Perhaps this is right for them.
John Williams
Ngongotahā
