About 100 staff at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) today turned up to an afternoon tea to farewell former chief executive Roger Sutton.
State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie, left, and Roger Sutton. Photo: RNZ
Mr Sutton resigned from his $600,000 a year job last November after a claim he sexually harassed a senior staff member was upheld.
His last official day at the authority is Saturday but he has been on gardening leave since December.
CERA acting chief executive John Ombler was to make a speech at the function, held at a school close to the authority's office.
Mr Ombler paid tribute to Mr Sutton on his way in.
"I know myself, from doing the job at the start and now, that it's a challenging job and Roger had a key part to play in that over three-and-a-half years, and they were difficult years."
No public money had been spent on the function, and staff had brought a plate to provide refreshments.