When Leonie Armstrong heard about the tragedy off Karikari Beach, she knew what she had to do.
The Winz case worker phoned her bosses and told them she wouldn't be at work that day because her community needed her.
Since Thursday morning she and a dozen other volunteers from Whatuwhiwhi, the biggest settlement on the Karikari Peninsula, have been cooking up a storm at the Karikari Community Hall and feeding more than 70 firefighters, police, divers and Search and Rescue staff.
"When I heard about the tragedy, I just thought, 'I'm going to help my community'. I've been here all day," Ms Armstrong said.
Rosina Lawrence, also from Whatuwhiwhi, said locals had been bringing in cakes and baking all day, while supermarkets and nearby golf resort had been donating food.
"It's been overwhelming the way everybody's got together. There's real community spirit, but that's what we're about on the Karikari Peninsula," she said.