Dinner from the night markets to your doorstep, Auckland Night Markets to launch new food delivery service
Auckland Night Markets directors say they founded the business to give Aucklanders an "international street food dining experience". But with a growing number of customers getting used to having their dinners delivered to their doorsteps by the likes of Uber Eats and Panda, the night markets will be launching their own app and delivery service. So instead of queuing for food at the night market stalls, customers can order their dinner from up to 150 night market vendors and have the food delivered. The first night market was opened in 2010 at Pakuranga, but has since expanded to seven locations across Auckland and two in Hamilton on different nights of the week.
Night market co-founder Paul de Jonge said the need to launch a food delivery service and Night Market Eats mobile application was "a sign of the times". "Aucklanders are today so used to having the convenience of just pushing the screens of their mobile phones and having their dinner appear on their doorsteps," de Jonge said. "One of the top queries we get is about whether we do deliveries, so we've just got to keep up with it." The service is offered without charge to night market stall holders, de Jonge said, and is also a way to help them grow their business. The range of food on offer at the night markets include squid tentacles, durian pastry, dumplings, hangi, fried noodles, burgers and barbecue skewers. Cuisines range from Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Greek, Hungarian, Maori to Pasifika. "We are looking at how we can best ensure that the food remains fresh and gets delivered to our customers at the quickest possible time," de Jonge said. Jasmine Yao, 28, who developed the mobile app, said customers can order from any number of stalls and pay just one delivery fee. The food is sent to a centralised pick-up point, or the "night market hub", and the delivery driver will pick up and take it to the customer's doorstep. Customers will be able to find the list of stall operators and menus on any given night in the mobile app. "We basically make our money from the rent, so we won't charge our stallholders any more commission on top of what they sell their food for," Yao said. "This is also a way to help us attract even more stallholders in the future."
The app and delivery service will be trialled in late September, early October, Yao said. Information on how to download the app will be released on the Auckland Night Markets Facebook page once it's ready. A frequent user of Uber Eats food delivery service and night market visitor Tom Gibbard, 24, said he was excited about the night market delivery but questioned whether it would work in terms of food quality. "We're not talking pizza or fried chicken here, noodles can get soggy and some Asian buns can become hard as stone when left out for a while," Gibbard said. Another night market regular Dave Takai, 42, said he was unlikely to use the delivery service and would continue to get his dinners at the markets. "The night market isn't just about the food, it's the atmosphere. You can have pizza at home, but you've got to be at the markets to fully enjoy what the food's about.
==========================================================
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52.3% Human-centred experience and communication
-
15.2% Critical thinking
-
29.7% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.8% Other - I will share below!
The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
Loading…
