A special day in the life of the city

Pictured: Neil Finn added a touch of superstar magic as a thousand diners enjoyed Christmas lunch.

By Bronwyn Sell

Some had little money, some no family and some no home, but all had Christmas, and probably the best entertainment in Auckland.

The Auckland Town Hall became a restaurant yesterday for the City Mission's annual Christmas dinner, and with more than 1000 people to feed, it was the largest and noisiest in New Zealand.

"There are lots of smiles on lots of different faces," said Kevin Warren, from Takanini, who dined with his wife, Sharmaine, and their five children.

City Missioner Diane Robertson was overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

"I see so much poverty, I see so much need every day. This isn't about the money, or the gifts. This is about seeing the good side of Auckland."

She said it was also about the generosity of 400 volunteers, including singers Neil Finn, Don McGlashan and the Topp Twins, who serenaded the diners.

Volunteer Cath Masters, from Onehunga, said she had received the greatest gift this Christmas - her first grandchild, born on Thursday.

"When you look at a newborn child it gives you this feeling of magic."

The dinner, sponsored by the ASB Bank and prepared at the Devonport Naval Base, called for 420kg of turkey, ham and lamb, 90kg of beans, 15 sacks of potatoes and kumara, 20 litres of ice cream, 20 litres of jelly and a three-tiered, metre-long Christmas cake.

The Rose family from Pt Chevalier, Gael, Francis and Kaitlin, were spending their third Christmas with the mission.

"We don't bother with Christmas dinner ourselves," said Gael Rose. "I'm a single parent, so it's hard."

Elderly Panmure woman Helen Henderson, who has no family in Auckland, said she would have been moping around home feeling sorry for herself without the mission dinner.

"A lot of people would be so unhappy if they couldn't have this. It's been a really lovely day."