Around a thousand people are expected at a Christmas Day service at Oihi in the Bay of Islands.

Church leaders from around the country are gathering to recognise 200 years since New Zealand's first Anglican service.

Bishop Ross Bay says the service has taken three years of planning.

"It's an important day celebrating 200 years since the first known service to be held on New Zealand soil, with both the pakeha and the Maori congregation."

The site at Marsden Cross is where missionaries held the first service.