$30K for breakfast? How Napier Council is justifying the spend as job cuts loom
drew public attention after it disclosed nearly $30,000 spent on a
staff Christmas breakfast
for 612 employees, plus a $480 depot morning tea, totaling $32,089.50 over three months. The expense was revealed in the Audit & Risk Committee's sensitive expenditure report for December 2024 to March 2025. With more than 100 staff positions under review, critics say the lavish outlay feels out of step with the council's financial climate.
Mayor
Kirsten Wise
defended the cost, stating it aligned with council policy on
staff recognition
. She called the breakfast 'a small but meaningful opportunity' to thank those who work early shifts and maintain essential services during the holidays.
Also Read:
Meet Professor Richard Scolyer, the scientist who just completed his 250th Parkrun while battling terminal brain cancer
Wise described the NZD 48.22 per-person cost, covering food, coffee, logistics, and set-up, as reasonable and transparently reported.
Live Events
Councillor and candidate Nigel Simpson said the tradition began under a previous CEO and could be made more cost-efficient, perhaps by switching to filter coffee.
Local caterers are surprised at the per-head cost. A cooked breakfast for 600 typically costs around NZD 22, with continental options under NZD 20. In contrast, Napier's breakfast cost NZD 48.22, presumably including logistics, equipment hire, staff, and coffee expenses.
Chief Executive Louise Miller explained that the annual breakfast at McLean Park has been the only council-funded staff recognition event since 2019. She said the event brings together colleagues who rarely meet and rewards their hard work.
The Napier council is undergoing a structural review, with proposals considering cuts to more than 100 roles. In a climate of fiscal restraint, some argue that big spending on staff events could erode public trust. Others say investing in staff morale supports service delivery, especially during periods of change.
Economic Times WhatsApp channel
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
How a Bengaluru man tried to dodge tax by registering his Ferrari & Mercedes in other states but ended up paying Rs 1 crore in dues
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A businessman based in Bengaluru has landed in trouble for trying to dodge Karnataka's high road tax by registering his luxury cars in other states. According to a TOI report, he has now been made to pay nearly Rs 1 crore in pending taxes after a transport department department recovered Rs 61.9 lakh in tax for his Ferrari 812 Superfast, which was registered in Jharkhand, and Rs 37 lakh for his Mercedes-Benz, which was registered in Puducherry. Officials found that both cars were regularly being used in Karnataka, even though they were registered elsewhere.'He lives and works in Bengaluru. The Ferrari, which costs about Rs 5 crore, was registered in Jharkhand with just Rs 14 lakh paid as tax. If he had registered it here, the tax would have been close to Rs 1 crore,' a senior official from the transport department told per the rules, if a car registered outside Karnataka is used in the state for more than 12 months, the owner must pay Karnataka's road tax. 'He didn't follow this rule,' the official March, the department sent the businessman a notice asking him to pay the dues. He first claimed the Ferrari had only come to Bengaluru for servicing in January and would be returned to Jharkhand within three months.'But we gathered proof that both cars had been used here regularly for over a year. On Friday, we showed him the evidence and warned of legal action. He then agreed to settle the matter and gave cheques for the dues,' the official is the second such case in recent days. Earlier this week, the department collected Rs 40 lakh in tax from another businessman who had bought second-hand Rolls-Royce cars that once belonged to actors Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. Those vehicles were also running in Karnataka without paying local from TOI
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's Scotland tour to promote golf resorts has a shocking price tag for Americans, sparks backlash
How much will Americans pay for Trump's Scotland trip? Live Events Trump and his obsession with golf (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US President Donald Trump's five day visit to his golf resorts to Scotland is set to cost the American public $10million, it has been revealed. Though the trip is officially designated as a 'work trip', it includes stops at his golf courses and the opening of a new course near US President's Air Force one has an operating cost of $273,063 per hour, meaning the total for just flying the presidential plane will be $3.8 million for the Scotland trip., according to the Huffington Post. Estimated expenses cover Secret Service overtime, the operating costs of Air Force One and Marine One, and the transportation of Trump's Scotland trip is unrelated to a planned state visit to the United Kingdom in September, making it by far the most expensive golf vacation to date in either of his terms. It will also increase the total golf tab in his second term to at least $52 million. He spent $152 million in taxpayer money playing golf at his own resorts in his first term, the report is also scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney. The trip is expected to incur substantial costs for Scottish taxpayers due to a major police operation and anticipated Libowitz, who's with the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said, 'We've reached a point where the Oval Office is an extension of the Trump Organization, and American taxpayers are footing the bill.''A president should not be spending time trying to make money in a foreign country while in office, but if they do, at the very least, they could pick up the tab for their business trips.''He's using the presidency to market his golf courses,' said Richard Painter, the top ethics lawyer in George W. Bush's second-term White House. 'At the taxpayer's expense, he's promoting himself.'The White House is yet to respond to the queries on the matter, including specifically whether Trump planned to reimburse the US Treasury. In public statements, both Trump and his aides have only spoken about a planned meeting with British Prime Minister Keir comes as Trump has been accused of "working a part-time job" as a Trump Golf Tracker going viral suggests he has gone golfing on nearly a quarter of the days since his January 20 just a month of being back in office, Trump has already been accused of creating a "constitutional crisis" following a rapid succession of executive orders and controversial policy moves as he works with Tesla CEO Elon Musk to upend the federal government. But it appears the president has still had plenty of time to enjoy one of his favorite hobbies - to the Trump Golf Tracker, which uses publicly available information, the president has gone golfing on seven out of his 29 days in office so far, equivalent to 24.14% of his presidency. During his first presidential term, the Trump Golf Tracker claims that he visited a 'Trump Organisation property on 428 of the 1,461 days of his first presidential term', equivalent to just under one-third of his four years in estimated that he played 261 rounds of golf during his first presidential stint. The tracker was made by The Alt Media, a publication created by former DNC field director Adam Parkhomenko and former White House correspondent Sam site has gone viral on Reddit, where Americans have been weighing in on Trump's golfing habits. "Honestly I wish he was golfing 100% of the time," one person wrote. A second agreed, saying: "Yeah, golfing is literally the least harmful thing he can be doing right now."
Fibre2Fashion
6 hours ago
- Fibre2Fashion
US firm Deckers Brands appoints Patrick Grismer to board of directors
Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), a global leader in designing, marketing, and distributing innovative footwear, apparel, and accessories, announced the nomination of Patrick J. Grismer for election to its Board of Directors (the 'Board') at the Company's 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on September 8, 2025 (the "Annual Meeting"). In connection with Mr. Grismer's nomination and as previously announced, Dave Powers will not stand for reelection to the Board at the Annual Meeting, retiring after more than nine years of service as a director. Mr. Grismer brings over 35 years of financial leadership experience at major global consumer companies. He currently serves on the board of directors of Krispy Kreme and recently served as chair of the board of directors of Panera Brands. Mr. Grismer previously held CFO roles at Starbucks Coffee Company, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Yum! Brands, where he oversaw significant business transformations and value-creation initiatives, as well as executive leadership positions at The Walt Disney Company. Mr. Grismer earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University. If Mr. Grismer is elected to the Board at the Annual Meeting, he is expected to join the Audit & Risk Management Committee. Maha S. Ibrahim, a member of the Audit & Risk Management Committee, is expected to join the Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability & Governance Committee and step down as a member of the Audit & Risk Management Committee if reelected to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Deckers Brands has nominated Patrick J Grismerâ€'former CFO of Starbucks, Hyatt, and Yum! Brandsâ€'for election to its board at the September 8, 2025 Annual Meeting. Grismer would join the Audit Committee, as Dave Powers retires after nine years. The board praised Grismer's financial acumen and honoured Powers' impactful leadership and legacy. 'We are pleased to nominate Pat to our Board as we build on Deckers' growth trajectory and value creation,' said Cindy Davis, Chair of the Board . 'Pat's financial expertise, strategic vision and proven leadership at some of the world's most recognizable companies will be immediately additive to our oversight of Deckers' long-term strategy and the continued momentum of our iconic brands.' Mr. Grismer said, 'Deckers has created leading footwear brands that consumers are passionate about and truly connect with. I have been impressed by the Company's ability to continually extend its reach and deepen its relevance across categories and geographies, always meeting the moment. I am excited to join the Board and help advance the Company's strategy to deliver value.' Ms. Davis continued, 'On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Dave for his immense service to Deckers, both as a director and as our former CEO and President. Dave has played an instrumental role in shaping Deckers into the industry leader it is today, with unique products that blend technology and comfort. We are grateful for Dave's above-and-beyond dedication, and we wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement come September.' Mr. Powers commented, 'It has been deeply rewarding to be part of Deckers' journey since 2012, which has been marked by explosive growth and meaningful contributions to our communities. Deckers is a resilient organization with incredible talent and exemplary leaders, and the extraordinary innovation happening at HOKA and UGG will continue to set the Company apart. I am confident Deckers' future is bright, and I look forward to following its successes for years to come.' Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
