Tauranga's Good Neighbour Charitable Trust has given the green light to develop a Commercial Kitchen on its premises.

Goodneighbour Kitchen, GNK, could be underway in the New Year if building consent is approved.

The Charitable Trust was formed four years ago and is responsible for The Welcome Bay and Bethlehem Community Gardens, Community Projects and a highly successful Food Rescue Service.

The Food Rescue arm, orchestrated by John and Jackie Paine, has been rescuing 8 tons of food every week, and distributing that to 55 Charities.

'We are proud of all three facets of Good Neighbour, the proposed Commercial Kitchen makes sense and fits well within the realm of what we are trying to achieve - and that is to transform our Community," says Jackie Paine, food coordinator.

'We have 90 volunteers collecting and sorting food. They are all excited about the Commercial Kitchen - the Board fully backs the addition of a kitchen on the premises," says John Paine.

The Good Neighbour Board met and approved stage one of GNK, which involved seeking consent prior to any building to take place.

General Manager Campbell Hill says the hard work starts here.

'It's a natural fit, bringing together all the arms of Good Neighbour, further minimising food waste, building community and providing the opportunity for us to work closer with the charities we support.”

'If it all goes to plan we will have a food skills mentoring program operating out of the kitchen, but for now we just need to get the go ahead from council," says Jackie.

If consent is approved fundraising for the Kitchen will be underway before Christmas. Meanwhile the Annual Ladies Long Lunch on November 3 has sold out.

Good Neighbour is one of two recipients of the Luncheon, which hopes to raise in excess of $100,000 this year.