The Navy today hosted almost 400 people to a fish and chip lunch onboard the HMNZS Canterbury to raise funds for the Wellington City Mission.

Photo: RNZ / Kate Pereyra Garcia

A marquee was erected on the deck of the multi-role vessel and fresh sushi, mini bagels with smoked salmon, and the main course of fish and chips were served.

It's the second time the Fish and Ships event has been held in Wellington Harbour to raise money for the City Mission.

Local caterer, Ruth Pretty provided the entree and desert courses.

Photo: RNZ / Kate Pereyra Garcia

Serving on the vessel was surprisingly easy as the Navy was highly organised, she said.

"It's not hard to keep a schedule here."

Ms Pretty has supported the mission for a long time, she said.

The Navy was in charge of cooking the fish and chips themselves.

Photo: RNZ / Kate Pereyra Garcia

About 80 kilograms of fresh snapper and another 80 of chips were ordered.

And students from Samuel Marsden and Rathkeale Colleges also helped out.

Today's event will raise about $30,000 - that may sound like a lot of fish and chips, but it's about 1 percent of all the donations and grants the mission received last year.

City Mission chief executive Michelle Branny said running the mission was expensive and they appreciated everything the Navy had done to make the event a success.

Photo: RNZ / Kate Pereyra Garcia

Chief of Navy John Martin said they wanted to support the great work the Wellington City Mission does.

"We're keen to do whatever we can for worthy causes and particularly with the City Mission.

"It's helping people who are in desperate need and who come under circumstances which are out of their control quite often and we sort of do the same thing overseas."

The HNMZS Canterbury in particular had been involved in transporting aid in the Pacific, he said.