Catering & Event Hospitality

From prep kitchen to function floor, one roster

Rostering software for New Zealand caterers and event hospitality teams. Run your kitchen on weekly rosters, staff functions from a dedicated events calendar, and let casuals bid for the shifts they want.

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2-in-1

Weekly rosters + events calendar

Bidding

Casuals apply for functions

GPS

Clock-in at any venue

Per employee / month (NZD)

Catering rostering challenges we solve

Fixed kitchen crews, ever-changing function bookings, and a casual pool that lives on their phones. Here's how RosterMate keeps every plate moving.

Two Kinds of Work

Daily kitchen prep runs on weekly rosters; weddings and corporate functions live on a separate events calendar. Both in one system, neither cluttering the other.

Casual Pools That Flex

Open function positions to shift bidding — casuals apply from their phones, accepted staff get confirmed slots, and extras wait on an automatic backup list.

Off-Site Attendance

Functions happen at client venues, not your kitchen. GPS geofenced clock-in verifies staff are at the right venue, wherever the job is.

Last-Minute Changes

Numbers went up, a waiter cancelled, the venue changed. Adjust shifts, promote waitlisted staff, and push updates to everyone's phones in seconds.

Split Shifts & Variable Weeks

Lunch service plus an evening function is just two shifts, both visible in the app. Clock records match each shift automatically, so variable weeks pay correctly.

Casual Payroll Admin

Approved hours export to Xero, Crystal, PayHero, Smartly, or Excel — or pay staff and file payday information with IRD directly from RosterMate.

Catering scheduling features

Purpose-built tools for caterers and event hospitality providers. See the full Events feature.

Weekly Kitchen Rosters

Drag-and-drop rosters for prep and production
Templates for standard weeks
Copy previous rosters and adjust
Availability visible while you build
Auto-roster bot fills shifts from your rules

Functions on the Events Calendar

One-off and multi-day functions planned separately
Per-day areas, positions, and times
Capacity-based shift bidding for casuals
Automatic waitlists for backups
Copy an event to reuse for similar bookings

Time Tracking Anywhere

Mobile clock-in with GPS geofencing (50-100m)
Kitchen kiosk with PIN codes
Kiosks work offline and sync automatically
Clock records matched to shifts automatically
AI timesheet assistant resolves discrepancies

Leave & Availability

Staff request leave from the app
All NZ leave types supported
Conflicts flagged before approval
Casuals keep availability up to date in-app
Approved leave updates the roster automatically

Team Communication

Push notifications when rosters and events publish
Direct messages and function group channels
Announcements to the whole team
Shift swaps handled in-app
Shift offers for urgent cover

Payroll & IRD

Export to Xero, Crystal, PayHero, Smartly, Excel
Or pay staff and file payday info with IRD directly
Public holiday rates calculated automatically
Casual and part-time hours consolidated per period
Bank batch files for the major NZ banks

Why caterers choose RosterMate

Every function staffed, every hour paid right.

Weekly rosters and function staffing in one system

Casuals bid for the functions they want to work

Waitlists cover cancellations automatically

GPS clock-in verifies attendance at any venue

Variable casual hours flow straight into payroll

Flat $8 per employee per month, events included

Catering rostering FAQs

Common questions from catering and function managers across New Zealand.

Yes, and that's the point. Your production kitchen and permanent staff run on normal weekly rosters, while weddings, corporate functions, and multi-day client bookings live on a separate Events calendar with their own areas, positions, and times per day. Neither clutters the other.

Set a capacity for each position — say 25 waitstaff and 6 bartenders — and open the slots to shift bidding. Casuals apply from the mobile app, accepted applicants get confirmed slots, and extras go on an automatic waitlist so you have backups when someone cancels.

Yes. Staff clock in from the RosterMate mobile app with GPS geofencing accurate to 50-100 metres at the function venue, so you get verified attendance wherever the job is. Fixed kitchens can also run a tablet kiosk with PIN codes that works offline and syncs automatically.

Shifts are fully flexible — a lunch service shift and an evening function shift on the same day are simply two shifts, and staff see both in the app. Clock records match to each shift automatically, so pay for variable weeks stays accurate.

Yes. RosterMate includes direct messages, group channels, and announcements with push notifications. Staff get notified when rosters or event assignments are published, and last-minute details like venue changes reach everyone instantly.

RosterMate costs a flat $8 NZD per employee per month with everything included — weekly rostering, the events calendar, shift bidding, GPS time tracking, forms, leave, and payroll export to Xero, Crystal Payroll, PayHero, Smartly, or Excel, plus direct IRD payday filing. The 30-day free trial needs no credit card.