Letter to the Editor - Tuesday January 22, 2013

Done and dusted?

Kaitaia Veterinary Services (Inc) directors have all but done a deal for TopVets to supply all the vet care to all of Kaitaia Vets' clients all of the time.

This deal was being done behind closed doors, with a man of whom one board member said he "Doesn't even know the man," without even notifying the members, let alone an open, transparent tender process, the vets employed by Kaitaia Vets being advised or offered the opportunity to put forward a contract proposal, or consideration of the social impact of their decision.

We know amalgamation is a trendy thing right now, but surely big business is the downfall of a small town.

As a result of this contract all the staff of Kaitaia Vets will be made redundant. Devastating for the well-respected local staff, who have worked loyally for Kaitaia Vets, some for many years, and their families.

This deal will effectively result in a veterinary monopoly for Kaitaia. It is inevitable that this will have a profound effect on the provision and pricing of veterinary care in our district.

Kaitaia Vets is a non-profit organisation, so all profits are returned back into the business, and therefore benefit the whole community with things like pricing, discounts, sponsorship and other community-minded activities. When TopVets takes over the business will be profit-driven with the lifestyle of the partners the overriding factor for pricing.

Kaitaia Vets is an incorporated society, so is bound to work within a constitution and rules, which the directors plan on changing to allow this contract to go through.

If you have an interest in the outcome of this process you need to speak up and let your feelings be known. Only the club members can dictate what happens next.

Kaitaia Vets used to be known as one of the best employers in town. After the last few years, under the management of the current board of directors, we think this might not be the case now.

NAME WITHHELD

Kaitaia

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Kaitaia Veterinary Services (Inc) board chairman James Parsons said the board wished to make it clear that no deal had been 'done'. Some preliminary discussions had been held with TopVets, looking at possible options for creating efficiencies in service delivery, but that was as far as things had gone at this stage.

Because those discussions were very preliminary in nature they were confidential to the parties, although, by agreement, the fact that they were taking place was shared with staff, in confidence, in accordance with the board's obligations under the Employment Relations Act.

The board was committed to acting in the best interests of Kaitaia Veterinary Services members and staff, and any decisions would be made following full consultation with members and staff.