MPI payouts

A Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) spokesperson recently stated “that as guardians of the public purse, they have to check all claims before they pay them out”, which is small consolation to the oyster farmers and dairy farmers who have had their livelihoods destroyed on MPI instructions and are still waiting.

However, it was also reported that the “guardians of the public purse” allegedly paid around $13,000 to have a single tractor waterblasted.

At the living wage of $20.55/hour it would involve over 600 hours of labour. Maybe the overcharging could be deducted from the staff salaries, so they have some skin in the game.

A. Gifford, Tauranga.