Festive warmth reaches into all corners
A GROUP of travellers from the northern hemisphere got a taste of a true Kiwi Christmas – a barbecue and beers at Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay.
Max Eidemueller, from Germany, marked Christmas Eve in the traditional German way, then gathered with fellow travellers for a second celebration yesterday.
‘‘That’s why I came to New Zealand – to find people, to meet people. That’s why I’m here; a great success.’’
Edd Saunders, from England, said there were Germans, English, Scots and Spanish at the barbecue, as well as ‘‘an actual Kiwi’’.
For the 28th year running the Aro Valley Community Centre put on a festive spread, catered by volunteers.
This year about 120 people were served lunch prepared by volunteers and supplied by local businesses including food rescue co-ordinator Kaibosh, brewers The Garage Project, and Arobake.
People who had nowhere to go or no food to put on the table were welcome at the hall in Aro Valley and there were children among their number this year, Room at the Inn organiser Lindy Pacey said: ‘‘Just people who are finding it a bit tough, sometimes.’’
Some of those who joined the lunch were struggling students, or new migrants or travellers who did not know anyone in the city, she said.
Just down the road a veteran firefighter was among the emergency workers and volunteers keeping Wellingtonians safe on Christmas Day.
On the holiday many traditionally spend with their loved ones, the city’s rescuers – firefighters, police, ambulance and hospital workers – farewell their families and head to work.
You might think five decades battling blazes would entitle a man to a day off, Wellington fire station senior station officer Paul Lyall, who joined the service in 1965, was among their number.
And even the community’s heroes need to eat.
Wellington’s green watch mucked in for a Christmas roast at the station in between callouts on a ‘‘relatively quiet’’ shift yesterday.
Christmas Day brings unique mishaps, the firefighters said over lunch yesterday.
‘‘Sometimes we get people burning their Christmas dinner, the Christmas tree going up from faulty lights or something,’’ Lyall said.