Ministry blasted for spending $40k on chief executive's farewell

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples has been blasted by a watchdog commission for spending nearly $40,000 on a farewell event for its outgoing chief executive. Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes said today: "This is a case of one agency getting it wrong." ADVERTISEMENTChief executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae later returned the gifts and repaid the money after he became aware of the spending. "When a mistake is made, I expect public service chief executives to own it, fix it, learn from it, and to be accountable," Hughes said. A 'culture of extravaganza' - oppositionPacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said she had confidence in the new chief executive of the ministry.