$40,000 for a farewell!

The Herald reports:

A lavish event including gifts to farewell the boss at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) last year failed to meet the “moderate and conservative” standards of the public service, a review has found. …

MPP spent $39,262.22 on the farewell, including $7500 on gifts for him – understood to include carvings and fine mats – and $3000 on “discretionary items” including photography, flowers and ceremonial drummers.

$40,000 is so far beyond moderate and conservative it isn’t funny.