Lunch sunny side up for some employees

The Tauranga waterfront is a hive of activity during lunchtime on a sunny summer's day - but just how sacred is the lunch break?

A recent study commissioned by Domino's Pizza found 35 per cent of the 500 New Zealanders surveyed could not wait to get away from their desks at lunchtime, but 36 per cent said they worked through during busy periods.

Tauranga mates Johnny Gilchrist and Mark Flood were enjoying lunch on the waterfront when the Bay of Plenty Times caught up with them yesterday.

The friends said they often found themselves working through their breaks but tried to meet up for lunch once a week.

"We've come out every week for two years," Mr Flood said. "I tend to get stuck in the office or work through. It's good to have an excuse to get out."

Mr Gilchrist said he used to buy his lunch but had begun to bring it from home to save money.

"It was just getting so expensive. I'm on to picnics now. It's much cheaper."

Workmates Angela Warren-Clark and Leah Wills were also enjoying lunch in the sun on the waterfront yesterday.

Ms Wills said she made sure to take her hour-long break each day, but did not always choose to eat outside.

Ms Warren-Clark said she was less fastidious about taking her breaks and often ate at her desk if she was too busy to stop.

As for the menu, the pair often mixed it up. "I'd usually bring it from home," Ms Warren-Clark said. The pair occasionally splashed out on smoothies, sushi or yum cha.

The Domino's survey found about half of respondents took half an hour for lunch, about 20 per cent took about 15 minutes, 17 per cent took an hour where possible and 13 per cent tried to drag it out as long as possible.

The survey found 34 per cent of workers bought lunch as an occasional treat. More than half of those surveyed said they preferred pizza, followed by sushi on 33 per cent.

The celebrity most respondents would choose to have lunch with was Richie McCaw (32 per cent) this was followed by Paul Henry (23 per cent) and Rachel Hunter (22 per cent).