One party would have been okay

The Herald reports:

The New Zealand Film Commission has raised eyebrows by throwing two parties apiece for its outgoing acting chief executive, and for its incoming chief executive, for a total cost of $16,431.

In a kind of mirror image approval, incoming chief executive Annie Murray signed off the $8,627 price of two farewell parties for outgoing acting chief executive Mladen Ivancic; and Ivancic signed off the $7,804 price of two pōwhiri (welcome events) for Murray. …

On July 18 2023, 59 well-wishers joined Ivancic at Generator in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. The send-off capped more than 30 years’ employment at the commission, which included stints as acting chief executive, chief financial officer and chief operating officer.

I don’t have a problem with a function to farewell a chief executive who has spent 30 years at an institution.

Not sure two functions were needed though – one in each city.

And I think the new trend of needing to welcome an incoming CE with a function is silly. They’ve just landed a high paying job – they don’t need a party also.