The Defence Force will make Christmas as normal as possible today for troops serving overseas, with Christmas services and a lunch similar to what they'd eat at home.
More than 500 personnel would celebrate Christmas Day away from home, in ten countries on peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises.
Each soldier would receive a hamper from the RSA, containing Anzac biscuits, tomato sauce, Marmite and other quintessential New Zealand goodies.
Service personnel in Sudan and Afghanistan would continue working today, with most troops having a sit-down lunch.
Speaking from Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hall told NZPA Christmas had been "a pretty quiet day" so far, with about two-thirds of the 120-odd personnel expected to sit down together for lunch while others continued everyday work activities.
The remaining troops would have lunch separately.
A Christmas service was held for troops in Afghanistan last night.
Christmas lunch would include chicken, ham, turkey, pavlova, Christmas cake and soft drink, to keep it as normal as possible for troops, Lt Col Hall said.
At 10.30am, it was only two degrees Celsius but very sunny, leaving some personnel disappointed they would not have a white Christmas, Lt Col Hall said.
Lt Col Hall said the army was mindful of operating in a Muslim country, and there was no increased security risk at Christmas time.
Christmas for the army personnel was less about receiving gifts than giving back to the Afghan community, he said.
NZPA