Letters to the editor: Small food suppliers should be able to operate

Readers think small food suppliers should be able to operate in level 4. Photo / File

I totally support the lockdown at this time but I find it ironic the Government has spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on the supermarket duopoly review, finding it unfair, only to now support and endorse it by not allowing small owner-operated, food supply businesses to operate.

I, and most of my friends, would feel much safer being able to shop at our local butcher and greengrocer on a one-out, one-in basis.

These small businesses are those needing taxpayer-funded support now and are the most likely to close permanently, meaning ruin and loss of jobs for those whose lives have been spent growing a successful, specialist business and loss of jobs for their staff, thereby requiring ongoing government financial support.

There is no way social distancing is possible in supermarkets and there is no way a supermarket is going to fail.

Paddi Hodgkiss
Rotorua

Got it wrong

The Government has got it horribly wrong.

Corner shops, greengrocers, butchers, restaurants should not have been made to close. Supermarkets could have withstood the loss, small businesses cannot, they have to throw out masses of food, this is criminal.

I fear many shops will, unfortunately, try to sell what they can once they are allowed to open and that means some food will be borderline - not clever, but understandable.

You really need to think more carefully when laying down the rules.

Jim Adams
Rotorua

Rotorua has had enough

At last, we have councillor and DHB member Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and DHB member Lyall Thurston saying no more MIQ facilities in Rotorua.

Our hospital and staff are exhausted and also other facilities in Rotorua are overwhelmed.
Raukawa-Tait is right: Rotorua is looking "shabby".

No more beautiful city award for us. No vibrancy as it previously had. Too many facilities adding no economy to the city. We really have pulled our weight in more ways than just MIQ facilities, and yes, it's time the Government used other areas such as Tauranga, Hamilton and Queenstown.

Rotorua has had enough. We want our once beautiful, vibrant city back!

Viv Radley
Rotorua

No regard

Desperate people do desperate things such as hanging off planes only to fall to their deaths.

What gets me is it's a political decision to pull out by the US, which sits on its pedestal with no regard to human decency.

All I can say is I hope the politicians sleep well at night.

Gavin Muir
Springfield

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