Businesses across New Zealand have had to close, with no exceptions at all except for “essential businesses”.
What is an essential business, you ask? Examples given have included supermarkets, pharmacies – and the Imperial cigarette factory in Petone, Wellington.
Huh?
Stage-four – the most-extreme of New Zealand’s coronavirus alert levels – means only those businesses essential to the provision of life necessities can stay open.
Imperial spokeswoman Louise Evans McDonald said the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) had approved the factory’s operation through the lockdown.
Now, I’m not saying there’s anything dirty about the cigarette factory being allowed to stay open, let me be clear about that. But I will point out that the MP for Petone up until 2016 when he became Speaker of the House, was one Trevor Mallard.
Coincidence? Of course, it is!
In criteria set out by MBIE, an essential service is defined as “any entity involved in the supply, delivery, distribution and sale of food, beverage and other key consumer goods essential for maintaining the wellbeing of people”.
It is not clear whether Imperial Tobacco fits this description.
Newshub
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