A Women's Refuge employee was overwhelmed with emotion when Dr Ashley Bloomfield turned up to a business meeting and regifted her his trip to Fiji.
In July, Tourism Fiji invited Dr Bloomfield, the former Director-General of Health, to enjoy a tropical getaway to express their gratitude for his many years of public service.
But Dr Bloomfield instead decided to regift the holiday to a woman who is just as deserving.
"I was blown away by such a kind offer, but I thought that I'd love to re-gift this to someone who has also worked hard," he said.
Greymouth-based Women's Refuge employee Trish travelled from the West Coast to Wellington on Thursday for a series of business engagements.
Little did Trish know Dr Bloomfield would be attending - and gifting her a well-deserved holiday.
"I was just minding my own business, doing my job," Trish said.
Nominated by her colleagues, Dr Bloomfield wanted to formally recognise Trish and her team's hard work to "ensure victims of family violence receive the support they deserve".
Trish told Newshub she saw Dr Bloomfield at one of the meetings, but couldn't understand why the former public servant was there.
"I opened the door and Ashley Bloomfield was there; [I thought] I'll play the game then I'll get back to my meeting."
But then Trish heard Dr Bloomfield say, "I'm actually here to talk to Trish."
"I was like, 'how does he know my name?' What is going on here?"
She said when Dr Bloomfield began to speak, "it all sort of went blank" as she became "overwhelmed" by the situation.
Trish said Dr Bloomfield explained how he had been gifted the holiday but wanted to pass it on to an employee at Woman's Refuge instead.
"I knew what I was hearing but it was hard to believe, it was just quite full-on."
Although Dr Bloomfield chose the Women's Refuge, it was up to employees to nominate who they thought deserved the all-expenses paid trip to Fiji.
"The workers at Women's Refuge work tirelessly every day to protect and care for vulnerable women and children, and there is one woman in particular who really deserves this holiday," Dr Bloomfield said.
"For him to choose Women's Refuge, that just blows me away," Trish added.
"[I was] overwhelmed, I couldn't speak and I think that's the funniest bit because anybody that knows me, knows I never have trouble finding words for anything."
Dr Bloomfield added he "couldn't be happier to surprise Trish".
Trish couldn't find the words to speak and said she instead giggled and thanked Dr Bloomfield for his generosity.
The fact she will be in Fiji next year hasn't yet sunk in, she added.
"I suppose it'll take another week or so to kick in."
When Newshub asked what Trish had planned for her getaway, she said she won't be taking her phone.
"Definitely downtime, just sitting in peace and quiet, there'll be some swimming involved and sight-seeing," she said.
"I'm just really grateful and humbled."