Railway refreshment room

Refreshment rooms were similar to tearooms, and generally served a variety of hot drinks, pastries, cakes, and light meals.

[15] Stations with rooms in the 1930s included Ohakune, Whangārei, Paekakariki, Marton, Palmerston North, Woodville, Waipukurau, Taihape, Mercer, Frankton, Taumarunui, Putāruru, Hāwera, Kaitoke, Patea, Maungaturoto, Tauranga, Helensville, Paeroa, Masterton, Te Kuiti, Aramoho, Napier,[16] Kaikōura (1944),[17] Waipara,[18] Christchurch, Otira, Ashburton, Oamaru, Palmerston, Dunedin, Milton,[19] Clinton, Gore,[13] and Queenstown.

[15] In the late 1940s rooms were converted from table to counter-service to save staff and speed service;[18] for example 600 people were served in 7 minutes at Ashburton.

[15] In 1969 rooms remained at Whangārei, Wellsford, Auckland, Frankton, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Taihape, Hāwera, Wairoa, Napier, Waipukurau, Palmerston North, Wellington, Masterton, Otiria, Christchurch, Kaikōura, Springfield, Otira, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Palmerston, Dunedin, Clinton, Stillwater, Ranfurly and Lumsden.

[25] A railway refreshment room is a major part of the New Zealand folk song "Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line".