A Wellington doctor has sent the US embassy a $2,790.95 invoice, claiming the United States should reimburse his clinic for petrol vouchers handed to staff after fuel prices spiked during the Middle East conflict.
Dr Shane Dunphy of Onslow Medical Centre said the vouchers were necessary to help staff get to work and “feed their families” as petrol costs soared. In an accompanying letter, he wrote: “The USA is responsible for this and therefore should be held accountable.”
The invoice reportedly gave the embassy seven days to pay. Dunphy also used the letter to criticise Donald Trump and the US administration. He said the attack on Iran was “immoral and completely unjustified.”
The doctor said he sent the bill “as a matter of principle.”
“If you break something, you should fix it.” He added that he hoped countries worldwide would “point the finger at the US and say, sort this out.”
Dunphy also slammed the New Zealand government for failing to strongly condemn the conflict, saying leaders should act “on principle.”
While he doesn’t expect the embassy to pay, he said the move was intended to highlight who he believes is responsible for the broader economic fallout.