Restraint the unwelcome guest at party season

The recession may be over but businesses are not popping the champagne corks in celebration at this year's Christmas parties.

Firms are skimping to the extent that some are booking venues - but insisting on BYO alcohol.

And party shops have seen companies shopping for decorations for the office to avoid hiring a venue at all.

State broadcaster TVNZ has axed funding for separate departments to hold their own parties. Instead, said spokeswoman Andi Brotherston, staff could attend the usual company parties in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - but the budgets for those parties had not been increased for three years. Tony Crisp, director of sales at the Corporate Events Guide, said companies were this year able to book tables at Auckland venues like the Spencer on Byron or the Crowne Plaza for themed nights, to share costs with other companies.

About 35 staff from the ASB Bank had booked tables for an Arabian Nights themed party. Spokeswoman Debby Bell said staff were paying for about 90 per cent of the evening through a social club fund, and the bank was not holding a big party. "We just don't have the budget for that."

Last year the BNZ spent $40,000 on a swanky party at Auckland restaurant Cibo for senior staff, just days after predicting 32,000 Kiwis would lose their jobs in the credit crunch.

This year, spokeswoman Dee Crooks said the bank would be having in-house parties at their new offices at Harbour Quays in Wellington and the Deloitte Centre in Auckland.

Kiwibank spokesman Bruce Thompson said the firm was having its usual function at Victoria University. Staff would put on their own entertainment including performing skits.

At Auckland venue The Edge, business development manager Michael Stokoe said corporate Christmas bookings were slightly down this year.

"People are still tightening their belts out there, especially in the corporate world. They can't be shown to be wasteful," he said.

Some firms were stocking the bar with BYO alcohol, so as to pay only corkage, he added.

Last year telco TelstraClear cancelled its Christmas party, due to the tough times, but this year it plans to reinstate a function of some kind.

Telecom plans four Wild West themed parties in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, but wouldn't say how much it was spending.

And Vodafone had already held its Christmas party, at the Civic earlier this month. The Auckland venue was decorated to the theme of the Best of British, according to a blogger who attended. Six bar areas included a King's Room where one could get 'beheaded' or 'knighted', a rock and roll area and a children's story room in which the white rabbit downed shots.

Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen issued a "no comment" - the company's policy ever since the firm's notorious One Night in Bangkok party in 2000, featuring topless pole dancers and a live elephant.