Government departments must be dreaming of a budget Christmas if their staff Christmas parties are anything to go by.
A survey of 10 departments has shown that rather than the swanky blow-outs expected in private companies, most public servants will get far more conservative affairs.
Ministry of Fisheries staff fared best. They
were treated to an evening bash at Wellington's Boatshed at a cost of $10,100 for about 170 staff - an average cost of $59.42 a person.
That covered food and drink as well as hiring the venue, chairs, tables and a jukebox.
The Treasury contributes up to $30 a staff member for food, but in the past two years its employees have spent only between $18 and $22 each.
The Ministry of Housing contributed $20 a staff member to its Christmas bash. Land Information paid about $15 a head towards a function organised by its social club.
The Ministry of Economic Development spent $17.85 a staff member, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade $13.15 and the Ministry of Health $10.
The Scrooges of the public service are the departments of Corrections and Child, Youth and Family, where staff got $5.60 and $5 respectively to spend on a party.
Although Customs did not provide a figure, its chief executive did foot the bill for a pre-Christmas morning tea for all staff.
Human resources expert Dr Paul Toulson of Massey University said that although there was an element of public accountability for taxpayers' money, end-of-year events were a good and cost-effective way to show appreciation for staff and their efforts.
- NZPA
