Baking is typically bright and colourful and inspires conversations over technique, texture and taste.

But what if baking was moody and started conversations about a more serious topic?

That's what the Depressed Cake Shop aims to do.

By using black and grey colouring, with a pop of bright here and there, the Depressed Cake Shop idea gives people the opportunity to talk about depression and mental health – a pertinent topic in New Zealand's current climate.

Owner of baking store, Cake My Day in Gate Pa, Sharon Devery has teamed up with home baker Angela Elliot to bring the Depressed Cake Shop initiative to Tauranga.

Sharon says this year's event will be the fourth in New Zealand – with previous events held in Christchurch, Whanganui and Auckland.

'We just decided that it was our turn to do something good for the community and this is what we've chosen to do.”

Sharon's store Cake My Day in Gate Pa will be open on Saturday from 10am-2pm as the Depressed Cake Shop, and Sharon says any money raised will be put to a good cause.

'All the money is going to Autism NZ and we've asked them to allocate it to the Tauranga branch so it goes out to the community.”

And if you want to get involved, pop over to Cake My Day at 975 Cameron Rd this Saturday to buy a cake or a $2 raffle ticket for some great prizes, start a conversation, or even donate some baking.

'If people want to bring in a plate of baked goods we are happy to sell those on their behalf.”

Sharon says grey isn't normally a popular colour for baking, so she may struggle to keep to the colour palette.

'Mostly grey but it will probably depend on how I feel on the day. If I feel a bit colourful I probably will do a bit of colour because I was looking at everything today and thinking: ‘gosh it's a bit boring' so I've got some hundreds and thousands and marshmallows that we've dipped, and Angela's got some cake pops so there's a bit of colour but the main thing behind it is the grey cakes.

'I had to buy in extra black colouring to make sure I had enough.”

And at the end of the day, baking makes just about everyone happy.

'I'm happiest in my kitchen baking cakes,” says Angela.

For more information on the Depressed Cake Shop, visit www.depressedcakeshop.com