Auckland City Mission expecting to feed 2000 today at Christmas Day lunch

About 200 people have already queued for the annual Auckland City Mission Christmas lunch.

Inside the Viaduct Events Centre it is eerily quiet, but City Missioner Chris Farrelly said don't be fooled - it's the break between the chaos.

Hundreds of volunteers have been up since the wee hours of this morning preparing the massive feast, and soon 2000 people will start flooding through the doors to sit down and enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch.

The doors officially open at 11.30am.

Farrelly said that most people who come down to the lunch today already have tickets.

"They're people we and other agencies have been working with, and we're also catering for another few hundred who will just arrive," Farrelly said.

"The most special thing about the event is the people who give. We are so many volunteers and people we really want to stretch their hands and help out those in need."

The guests are in for a treat thanks to those donations and volunteers. Small bottles of soft drink, candy canes, Christmas crackers and sweets are arranged on the 140 tables.

Preparations began as far back as 8am on Friday.

On Sunday, the volunteers came in waves to do the food preparation and the clean-up after that.

There were separate groups to make desserts and to prepare the meat and vegetables.
Preparation of all food was completed by noon on Sunday.

The cooking began about 6am roday and volunteers started decorating the tables at 7am.

They'll serve up 300kg of ham, 2,000 chicken drumsticks, and 300kg of potatoes, with jelly and ice cream for dessert.

Every guest will also receive a gift before going home.

City Mission Christmas lunch volunteer Barney Wikitera told the Herald this morning it was his 6th year helping out at the lunch as a server.

"I used to come when I was younger when I lived in Avondale with my mum and my brothers, we didn't have much. I'm in a better place now so I want to give back."

Entertainment will be ongoing throughout the day on the stage in the Viaduct Centre.

Kapa Haka group Tokatu drove all the way from Rototua this morning to perform at the lunch.

Tokatu leader Ngapera Haitana said her daughter volunteered at the lunch last year and inspired them to make the trip.

"She said to us, we don't really do anything meaningful for Christmas so let's do something that makes a difference and share what we can do. So here we are, and it's a real privilege to be here," Haitana said.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch, about 700 people are expected for lunch in a marquee at Christchurch East School.

The City Mission there put out a late call for more donations of pavlovas.

"We can't face a Christmas without pavlovas," they said.

About 150 people are expected for the Room at the Inn charity Christmas Day lunch in Upper Hutt.

Quinns Post Tavern owner Murray McMahon will provide the venue and other services.

Thousands of people were last week lining up outside the Auckland City Mission as the lead-up to Christmas put the pinch on people's wallets.

On Tuesday, the Herald reported that nearly 2700 people queued up for emergency food parcels and gifts in the previous two weeks, and 80 per cent of those were women, missioner Chris Farrelly said.

"Women carry the burden of poverty in New Zealand, disproportionately to anyone else. Many of the people who have come to the City Mission this Christmas are women bringing up their children and other people's children on their own," he said.

City Mission general manager for social services Helen Robinson says the women experienced a lot of shame and anxiety from having to use a food bank.

"I'm constantly amazed at their resilience. But they feel a high level of shame at not having enough food," Robinson said.

The mission says the need for donations is critical as it expects another 1300 people this week. Last year the mission distributed 4000 emergency food parcels in December.

​- NZN