Students from Tai Poutini Polytechnic's 2010 Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Professional Culinary Arts packed in 12 hour days, delivering up to 1200 meals per day to those affected by the Pike River Coal mine tragedy, offering every assistance to serve the community in its hour of need.

The students, along with many other staff and volunteers, worked 14 days straight at Tai Poutini Polytechnic's industrial sized kitchen to provide meals to families of miners, Red Cross workers, rescue teams, drillers, police, the army, Pike River employees, district council members and volunteers.

Chief Executive Paul Wilson says during the 14 days students and many volunteers produced meals, compiling food parcels for the families and organised and coordinated the food donations from around the country.

"Many people including many culinary arts students put in full twelve hour days and not only donated their time and effort, but many did so while still holding down existing full time or part time jobs."

Some students would arrive at 7am, contribute for a couple of hours, go to work for the day and then return to help a few hours later. "This shows the extreme passion our students have in regards to the West Coast community."

"Tai Poutini Polytechnic would like to thank each and every student, local and national volunteers and suppliers who so generously either gave their time or donated foods to the cause. We wouldn't have been able to do this without them and, of course, we are extremely proud of the way in which our students conducted themselves," Wilson says.

The number of meals ranged from 200 in the early days to around 1200 in the final days. Meals included the full spectrum of courses including breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper and morning and afternoon tea.

"It was a huge undertaking for our students. We couldn't be more proud of them."

During the two week period the kitchen was visited by notables such as Rt Hon John Key, Labour leader Phil Goff, The British Consulate, Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn, MP Damien O'Connor and Member of Parliament for West Coast Tasman Chris Auchinvole. This week the Police Commissioner also arrived to thank students and staff personally.

"All of them visited to thank the team, with Mr Auchinvole also passing on personal thanks from the Governor General."

Hospitality students and staff also assisted the Red Cross during the tragedy, helping to operate Tutoro training restaurant which was designated as a quiet area away from the media and the general public following each briefing for the families of the victims.