Welcome to The Cook Off 2026
Cooking up hope, one meal at a time
On Monday 8th June 2026, at the NZ International Convention Centre, under the guidance of top chefs, senior business leaders will come together to prepare a delicious four-course meal for over 150 Mission guests. Our guests are people the Mission is supporting with housing, kai, and access to health care.
It will be an extraordinary evening, bringing together senior business leaders, celebrity chefs, and entertainers to create a truly special night for people experiencing the effects of poverty — including homelessness, limited access to health care, or difficulty putting food on the table. This event is more than serving a meal; it is a night of shared care, dignity, and connection as one community.
The Mission’s community dining room, Haeata, continues to see increasing demand, serving over 90,000 meals in 2025 to people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Currently, Haeata provides around 300 warm and nutritious meals every day — for many, this will be the only meal they receive. We rely on funds from our community to continue our commitment to provide these essential meals.
So in addition to creating an exciting menu, each participating senior business leader will also be rising to the challenge to raise at least $15,000, contributing to a collective goal of $400,000.
Together, they aim to raise funds that will provide 25,000 meals at Haeata this winter.
Every meal prepared and every dollar raised helps provide warmth, dignity, and hope for people across Tāmaki Makaurau this winter
Leaderboard
Our 2026 Fundraisers
Serving Up Hope in Haeata
Daily, nutritious meals, seven days a week. That’s our promise at the Haeata Community Centre, where all meals are freshly prepared onsite by a chef and team of volunteers.
For people experiencing homelessness or who can’t access cooking facilities easily, Haeata offers a safe and welcoming space for kai and connection.
Haeata is a space that’s grown to become a hub of activities and connection for street whānau. In additon to a warm and nutrious meal, people are able to connect with Mission staff who are able to link them with other Mission programmes including healthcare, housing, training and community activities.
Some people come to Haeata regularly, while others dip in and out – all are warmly welcomed to connect with each other and our team.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
