Kaikohe church offers free Christmas breakfast 'for everyone'

Kaikohe church members getting ready to host a free Christmas breakfast, from left, Toro Mason, Lee Mason, Te Manahaa Mason, 7, Angela Edmonds and Larry Hedge. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A Kaikohe church group wants to "shine a light" on the town by putting on a free Christmas breakfast.

Toro Mason, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, said "anyone and everyone" was welcome at the Mangakahia Rd church, next to the runanga, from 8-10am on Christmas Day.

"We wanted to bring a positive outlook to Kaikohe. There's been such negative publicity about our town," he said.

Lee Mason said until a number of years ago a free meal was served at Kaikohe's Memorial Hall every Christmas. The church's health-promoting group decided to bring the tradition back to life.

"We're shining a different light on Kaikohe," she said.

The menu would include cereals, porridge, baked beans, eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit and Milo. Asked how many people the church could cater for, Mrs Mason said: "However many the Lord sends".

Donations from church members had paid for the food. Others had offered to help out on the day or lend equipment.

"People want something meaningful to do on Christmas Day. They want to be part of it," Mr Mason said.

Meanwhile, Kaikohe identity Hone Korewha is organising a "Feast in the Streets" from 10am-1pm.

He is inviting anyone who wants to take part to bring their Christmas feast to the old Kaikohe Hotel site for a big shared meal. Mr Korewha said he was bringing a pig on a spit and was being helped by members of his church, the Hope Centre in Kerikeri.

He posted the idea on Facebook earlier this week and it had "gone viral". He encouraged anyone who couldn't get to Kaikohe to have a feast in their own street.

Donated presents would be placed under the pohutukawa tree for the kids while Pastor Mike Shaw of the Celebration Centre would lead a short Christmas service.

"It's about bring the community together and spreading a bit of cheer," he said. "And when you're in good company food tastes better."