Could we see this coming? 

That the mass vaccination event was going to go anything but smoothly today? 

Probably. 

They really needed this to go well. 

Because this is supposed to signal that NZ is finally off and running on the vaccinations.  

This week the jab opened to the general public. 

The PM got her second jab. 

And now this big event of efficient, mass vaccinating in the most at risk area, South Auckland. 

This is supposed to inject confidence in the roll out and encourage everyone else to go in and get a jab because it’s a super-efficient process. 

Except apparently it’s a shambles. 

At least that’s what Emma on Twitter said.  

Minimum delay already one hour – that was at 11:40 this morning. 

Spencer on Twitter said he turned up at 10:40 to hear the 9:50 group only being called then.

So confirmation: about an hour delayed. 

11:30 Helen texts us – still an hour’s delay.

Ralph called and said the delay was so long he had to abandon the jab and – it sounded like – go back to work. 

Even before this started it was clear this bombing.  

I mean you have to invite 140,000 people before you can fill the 16,000 slots – you know you’ve got a problem. 

That’s a response rate of 11.4%. 

That’s a decline rate of 88.6%. 

That’s not good by anyone’s measure. 

Frankly this event and the entire week has been a bit of a damp squib. 

As I said a few days ago: I’m starting to get a bit worried about how many people feel urgent about getting the jab. 

Hearing that you might have to take the day off work when it’s your turn because the system is delayed and slow is not going to help.