Staff at Waharoa Co-op cafe on Ōpawa Road were pleased to see the influx of customers coming through their driveway as the clock ticked midnight.
Within just 5 minutes of opening, there were more than 50 people - some in their dressing gowns - waiting in line to support the business and say 'kia ora!' to owner, Jimi.
Jimi was just as happy, and said it was good to see real people again.
Waharoa cafe opened a month ago, just before the country was plunged into strict level 4 lockdown conditions. The cafe made the most of the situation it found itself it, collaborating with drug-ARM to feed the less fortunate in Latimer Square.
Waharoa was one of the only cafes in the area serving customers in the dark of the night, but it paid off for all. Within the first hour, the cafe was out of their famous donuts and dozens of coffees had been slurped back.
