Finding the best caterers in Christchurch starts with matching the food and service style to the occasion, whether that is a wedding reception, a conference, a funeral or an office lunch. Catering in Christchurch covers everything from fully staffed location events with mobile kitchens to delivered platters and slow-smoked barbecue, with kitchens in Mairehau, Addington and Woolston. Moveable Feasts and Victoria Food Service are two of the names planners call first for larger functions.
1Moveable Feasts
Moveable Feasts is a Christchurch catering and event management company based on Hills Road in Mairehau, with more than 30 years of location and event catering behind it. Its mobile kitchens let the team prepare and serve food on site, from city venues to remote spots across the South Island. It suits couples, corporate clients and conference organisers who want the menu, staffing and running of the event handled in one place.
Services
- Wedding catering with advice on themes, venues and suppliers
- Corporate functions, gala dinners, cocktail parties and product launches
- Conference catering with menus built around delegate requirements
- Location catering at private properties, gardens and remote sites
- Buffet, a la carte and set menus prepared fresh on the day
Highlights
- More than 30 years of location and event catering experience
- Specially designed mobile kitchens and location equipment
- Event managers on site to run the day to schedule
- Menus designed to each client’s brief using Canterbury produce
- Supports Ronald McDonald House, Presbyterian Support, the City Mission and Aviva
Location & Contact
Name: Moveable Feasts
Address: 269 Hills Road, Mairehau, Christchurch 8013
Phone: 03 389 8617
Website: moveablefeasts.co.nz
2Victoria Food Service Catering Co
Victoria Food Service is a Canterbury caterer supplying daily workplace catering, events and weddings, with online ordering for regular office orders. The team also caters for sports teams and film crews, and offers a home dining service. It suits Christchurch businesses, venues and event planners who need a caterer that can handle both routine orders and one-off functions.
Services
- Daily office catering with online ordering
- Events, weddings and private parties
- Sports team catering
- Film crew catering
Highlights
- Catering partner of Canterbury Rugby and Southern United FC
- Works with sports nutritionists on athlete menus
- Executive chef Jonathan Payne trained at Soho House in London
- Events team handles operational planning and on-the-day execution
Location & Contact
Name: Victoria Food Service Catering Co
Address: Christchurch
Phone: 03 365 0022
Website: victoriafoods.co.nz
3Verve Real Food Catering
Verve Real Food Catering is a fully mobile caterer run by Nicky and Steve Geddes, operating from a home base in Yaldhurst on the western edge of Christchurch. The business started in a Victoria Square cafe before the earthquakes and now cooks from its own country kitchen using local suppliers. It suits hosts who want a menu built around their own ideas, favourite dishes or dietary needs.
Services
- Wedding catering
- Special occasion and birthday catering
- Corporate event catering
- Funeral catering
- Canapé, entrée, main course and dessert menus
Highlights
- Fully mobile kitchen for on-site catering
- Menus can include clients’ own recipes and ingredients
- Plenty of gluten-free options and all special diets catered for
- Published waste reduction policy with composting and reusable packaging
Location & Contact
Name: Verve Real Food Catering
Address: Yaldhurst, Christchurch
Phone: 03 374 6662
Website: christchurchcatering.co.nz
4Catering by Nikki
Catering by Nikki, also known as Nikki’s Kitchen, has been catering in Christchurch since 2002 from its cafe and bakery on Moorhouse Avenue in Addington. The team makes its food from scratch and delivers across Canterbury. It suits offices booking meeting food, families arranging funeral catering, and hosts planning weddings, birthdays and Christmas parties.
Services
- Corporate catering for meetings, conferences and team lunches
- Funeral and memorial catering
- Weddings, birthdays, engagements and Christmas parties
- Breakfast, morning tea and afternoon tea menus
- Cocktail platters
Highlights
- Catering in Christchurch since 2002
- Homemade food made from scratch
- Professional service staff available for weddings and functions
- On-site cafe and bakery in Addington
Location & Contact
Name: Catering by Nikki
Address: 37 Moorhouse Avenue, Addington, Christchurch 8011
Phone: 03 365 1617
Website: cateringbynikki.nz
5Smoke ‘n’ Barrel
Smoke ‘n’ Barrel is a barbecue restaurant, food truck and caterer on Ferry Road in Woolston, founded by chefs Chris Geary and Cory Blackburn. Meat is slow smoked in barrel smokers and served with sides, salads and sauces. It suits weddings, work shouts, conferences and birthdays where a relaxed, barbecue-style spread fits the occasion.
Services
- Wedding catering
- Work shout and conference catering
- Birthday and private party catering
- Market and festival food truck
Highlights
- Meat slow smoked for hours in barrel smokers
- Chris Geary built the first barrel smoker from a hot water cylinder
- Own restaurant at 616 Ferry Road, Woolston, since 2023
- Separate catering and market or festival enquiry lines
Location & Contact
Name: Smoke ‘n’ Barrel
Address: 616 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch
Phone: 022 018 0036
Website: smokenbarrel.com
Caterers in Christchurch at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Moveable Feasts | More than 30 years of location and event catering experience |
| Victoria Food Service Catering Co | Catering partner of Canterbury Rugby and Southern United FC |
| Verve Real Food Catering | Fully mobile kitchen for on-site catering |
| Catering by Nikki | Catering in Christchurch since 2002 |
| Smoke 'n' Barrel | Meat slow smoked for hours in barrel smokers |
How to Choose the Right Caterer in Christchurch
- Match the service style to the event: delivered platters for meetings, staffed buffets or plated meals for weddings and gala dinners.
- Ask whether the caterer can cook on site with a mobile kitchen if your venue has limited facilities.
- Confirm how dietary needs such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan are handled, including cross-contamination.
- Check what is included in the quote: staff, crockery, cutlery, linen, delivery and clean-up.
- Book early for weddings and end-of-year functions, when popular caterers fill their calendars first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christchurch Caterers
How far ahead should I book a caterer in Christchurch?
For weddings and large events, several months ahead is common, especially for spring and summer dates and the November to December function season. Office lunches and morning teas can often be arranged with a few days’ notice.
What does catering in Christchurch cost?
Pricing depends on the menu, service style, guest numbers and whether staff are required. Delivered platters are usually priced per person or per platter, while staffed weddings and dinners are quoted per head once the menu is set. Ask for an itemised quote that shows staffing and delivery separately.
Can a caterer come to a private property or rural venue?
Yes. Several Christchurch caterers run mobile kitchens and location equipment so food can be cooked and served on site at homes, gardens, farms and marquee venues around Canterbury. Confirm access, power and water needs when you book.
Do Christchurch caterers handle funeral catering at short notice?
Many caterers in Christchurch offer funeral and memorial catering and understand the shorter timeframes involved. Call directly rather than using an online form so the caterer can confirm availability quickly.
How can I check a caterer meets food safety rules?
Food businesses in New Zealand must operate under the Food Act 2014, usually through a registered food control plan or national programme. The Ministry for Primary Industries publishes food safety registers and lists, and you can also ask the caterer for its registration details.
Where are caterers located around Christchurch?
Catering kitchens are spread across the city, including Mairehau in the north, Addington near the central city, Woolston in the east and Yaldhurst on the western edge. Most caterers deliver citywide and further into Canterbury, so the kitchen location matters less than delivery charges and travel for staffed events.
Can a caterer supply staff and equipment as well as food?
Full-service caterers can provide wait staff, crockery, cutlery and sometimes linen and bar service. Drop-off catering usually comes in disposable or returnable platters, so check what is included before comparing quotes.
How We Chose the Best Caterers in Christchurch
Every business in this guide was found by searching for caterers in Christchurch, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Christchurch, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.