Public Service commissioner Peter Hughes says the Ministry of Pacific Peoples' 'got it wrong' after spending nearly $40,000 on a farewell for its departing chief executive in October last year.
The Commissioner reviewed the ministry's spending after it sent him a copy of an OIA response.
He found the spend included more than three-thousand-dollars on photography, flowers and ceremonial drummers, and more than $7,000 for travel and accommodation expenses for 12 guests.
Co-founder and executive director of the Taxpayer's Union Jordan Williams spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
