Mangōnui restaurant offers free Christmas lunches for those in need

Danielle Moa and her son Jesse, from Jesse’s on the Waterfront in Mangōnui, are hosting two free Christmas lunches for needy Northlanders this year.

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch – but dozens of less fortunate Northlanders will get just that this Christmas Day thanks to a generous whānau-run restaurant.

Despite New Zealand’s tough economic climate, Jesse’s on the Waterfront in Mangōnui is hosting two free Christmas lunches on December 25 for needy and lonely residents, or those with nowhere else to go.

While free, diners can choose to give a koha [donation] to the restaurant owned by the Moa family – parents Danielle and Anaru, and sons Jesse and Tyler – which will be donated to a local charity.

“It’s for all those who need help putting food on table this year, and those who are lonely and going through a hard time,” Tyler said.

“Whoever wants to book can book for their own reason.

“It’s all about giving back to the community that supports us through the hard winters.”

Jesse’s was established in 2022 when owner and head chef Jesse Moa made the trek back from Melbourne, Australia.

The family bought the restaurant from the previous owner, who ran it as the Waterfront Cafe and Bar for around 20 years.

Tyler, the restaurant manager, said he and his mum came up with the idea for the free Christmas lunch in October.

“We were talking about it back in October, wondering whether to be open or not.

“We thought this year, ‘Why not, let’s open’, and [considered how we could] give back as well.

“2024 has been hard for everyone with the economy going down the gurgler.

“A lot of people are strapped for cash.”

Local businesses were quick to jump on board with offers to help.

Coopers Beach Butchery has supplied lamb, Four Square Mangōnui and Four Square Coopers Beach supplied mussels and chicken, Far North ITM gave cash toward buying food, and Coast2Coast Gas gave a bottle of gas.

Tyler said the contributions from suppliers and local businesses have been “outstanding”.

Head chef Jesse Moa is getting ready to serve up a festive feast for Northlanders who can’t afford Christmas this year.

Kaitaia Whānau in Need – a community organisation which helps vulnerable families ō is promoting the lunches through social media.

Founder Deirdre Ahu said she was delighted to share the invite.

“They’re [families] absolutely amazed that this local family business has chosen to sacrifice their own Christmas festivities to provide for their community.

“For our most vulnerable families who only ever have the opportunity to drive past there [Jesse’s] ... to stop in and take your whole family for lunch will be amazing.”

The menu has “all the trimmings”, including a sharing board of garlic bread and Jesse’s famous mussels, which come in a red coconut curry broth.

For the main course, there will be a Christmas ham, roast lamb and chicken, and roast vegetables and salad, and for dessert there will be fruit cake, steamed pudding and custard, all washed down with non-alcoholic punch.

There will be two sittings, one from 10am-12pm, and another from 1pm-3pm, for 50 people per sitting.

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.