Choir brings festive spirit to Kiwis spending Christmas in quarantine

Community choir collective, Everybody Sings, performed for people in quarantine at Auckland's Pullman hotel. Photo / Michael Craig

Carolers in a community choir that sang outside an Auckland quarantine hotel on Christmas Eve were moved to tears by the response from those inside the hotel.

About 50 carolers from Everybody Sings, a collective of seven choirs, sang outside the Pullman Hotel in Auckland.

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Musical director Kate Bell said some in the group got "quite tearful" to see how much their audience appreciated the music.

The choir braved the wet weather to perform for Pullman guests. Photo / Michael Craig

"I don't think we were prepared for how incredibly moving it was going to be. We could see people in their rooms with their windows open. They were waving to us, blowing us kisses and holding up signs that said 'thank you' and 'Merry Christmas'."

Those at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland got a festive performance by choir group Everybody Sings. Photo / Michael Craig

Around 50 people from six choirs across Auckland braved downpours, to bring the spirit of Christmas to those stuck in quarantine.

"Being in a situation where they couldn't be with loved ones other than whoever was in that room, I guess that must've felt quite isolating for people."

Around 50 carolers came together to perform in front of the Pullman hotel in Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig

The group sang for over an hour, including a selection of waiata, to help Kiwis feel at home.

The group usually busks on streets and in shopping malls in the two weeks before Christmas, raising money for the desperately in-need Auckland City Mission.

The community choir collective sang to those in managed isolation at the Pullman Hotel on Christmas Eve.Photo / Michael Craig

This year the group has raised more than $25,000 for the charity.

The Pullman organised the choir for its guests and Bell said the hotel donated to the Auckland City Mission.

People staying at the Pullman in Auckland were given a special Christmas performance. Photo / Michael Craig

There are 5700 people who will spend Christmas Day in the 32 managed isolation or quarantine facilities in New Zealand - and some of them will still be in their hotel rooms for New Year's Eve.

Medical staff and Defence Force at Rotorua's Sudima Hotel get in the Christmas spirit. Photo / Supplied

Medical staff and Defence Force workers put on a festive display at the Sudima Hotel in Rotorua and Naumi Auckland Airport said it has planned a festive feast for guests.

Those at the Auckland Airport hotel will be able to indulge in a Christmas platter of cured meats for breakfast and Christmas mince pies for morning tea, followed by Champagne ham for lunch and roast lamb with truffle butter for dinner.