Christmas meals feed thousands 

Source: ONE NewsVolunteers serve meals at Auckland's Vector Arena during Christmas lunch

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Dozens of people volunteering to serve Christmas dinner to thousands of needy people had to be turned away because too many people wanted to help.

At what was Auckland's biggest-ever Christmas dinner ever and New Zealand's largest charity lunch, 2000 people tucked into a meal of turkey, ham and roast vegetables at the Vector Arena - that number was 600 more than last year.

The lunch, organised by the City Mission, shifted the event to the Vector Arena after hosting it for years at Auckland's Town Hall.

"It just means we're not crammed in, we're not serving in doorways, volunteers are saying how much easier this is ... So it feels this has been an easier event to run for us," City Missioner Diane Robertson says.

"There's families who've probably never been here before but they're financially been struggling this year and I just think it's a great beacon of light at the end of what's maybe been an incredibly tough year."

City Mission regulars gave the new venue a big thumbs up.

This year's mammoth Christmas feast was prepared at Auckland's navy base, using 300 kilograms of kumara, 240 kilos of turkey and litres and litres of gravy.

The entertainment was a treat too, with a performer to match the top-notch venue.

"I'm absolutely privileged to be here...and to be asked to be part of today's event. I always wanted to and it never came about so I'm glad they asked me," says singer Annie Crummer.

Later, Auckland City Hospital staff rallied together to put on a special show.

Band spokesman Joe McDermott admits they are a little bit nervous about the show, after having a rehearsal on the venue's stage. He says the arena is just so big it's almost overwhelming.

Around 450 people volunteered to serve lunch and many more wanted to.

Robertson says there was a 50% increase in the number of people coming to the mission for help this year.

And Auckland was not the only place serving free lunches for Christmas.

More than a hundred gathered in Wellington to enjoy the Salvation Army's Community Lunch.

Guests were treated to a two course meal and there was plenty to go around.

Many of the people invited would otherwise have spent Christmas on their own.

Even there, organisers had so many offers of help they had to turn away volunteers.  

And more than 200 people joined festivities at Dunedin's Church of Christ for their annual Christmas lunch.

Volunteers and fire fighters were there to dish up the feast.

Organisers estimate around 26 legs of ham and more than 30 kilograms of potatoes were devoured over the course of the day. 

And after concerns earlier in the week that there would not be enough food, the Christchurch City Mission ended up with plenty to go round as it fed nearly 700 people. 

There was lots of music and laughter with organisers thankful for all the donations received from big corporations, as well as the many families keen to help out.