PC gone mad

The AIDS Foundation (basically 100% taxpayer funded) is proposing that at least half its board seats be reserved for Maori. Only two seats will be reserved for HIV-positive people, so they are more concerned with whether you are Maori, than whether you actually are affected by HIV/AIDS.

UPDATE: Former Chairman, and Life Member, Jonathan Smith has written a column expressing his deep concern at the above proposal. He make the excellent point:

“I am in total support of people living with HIV and/or Maori having representation on the board. But please appoint such people based on their skills and the requirements of the board rather than based on health status or colour.”

Jonathan goes on to detail how such tokenistic appointments in the past, have actually damagaed the effectiveness of the organisation.

I am very much in the camp that diversity is a good thing, but quotas are generally a very bad thing.