New Zealand pie awards a bite better than the rest

The competitive spirit of New Zealand’s national pie awards has been spotlighted, with entries per capita well surpassing that of a recent British pie competition.

The annual Kiwi event, Bakel’s Supreme Pie Awards, had 590 entrants in 2024 for a population of 5.6 million.

In comparison, the 2025 British Pie Awards had around 900 entrants for a population of 68.3 million, and the 2024 Great Aussie Pie Competition had 367 entries for a population of 26.6 million.

Bakel’s managing director, Brent Kersel, says the event employs professional testing processes and special transportation boxes exclusive to their competition.

“We have been running the competition for 27 years and the quality has just gotten better and better.

“We’ve just built it up, how professional it is done and we’re just in a different league.”

Kersel also says high entry numbers represent New Zealanders simply "loving their pies” and local bakers continuing to up their game.

Entrants will travel around the country to look at award-winning pies and scope out their competition.

“[They] have a look at the quality, have a look at the pastry, try and get as many tips as they can. It’s very competitive.

“New Zealand is known for its lamb and beef, and that makes it unique as well.”

Awards at the competition are highly sought after, and winners proudly display stickers in their shops to highlight their successes.

“There are big things to be won making the best pie, [like] recognition, and there are lots of businesses growing due to winning the competition,” Kersel says.

Glenfield’s Freemans Bakery and Cafe scored the prized gold medal in the steak-and-cheese category at the 2024 awards.

Owner Tola Chhunleng estimates the bakery’s foot traffic has increased threefold since the win.

“It can help our business that we can sell a lot of pies. [Sales] are about two to three times [higher].”

Chhunlung has received highly commended awards in the bacon-and-egg and mince-and-cheese categories, but says gold in the steak-and-cheese is his greatest achievement.

“It's the most important category for the pie because Kiwis love steak and cheese.”

The mince-and-cheese and steak-and-cheese categories consistently receive the most entries, but Kersel says that the competition has evolved with the times.

"There were three main categories when it started and as times have changed, flavours have changed as well.

“[For example], there is the integration of butter chicken, changing tastes and people coming from overseas to New Zealand, which has changed flavours as well.”

There are now 11 categories in the competition and a Supreme Pie Award is granted to the best pie among the category winners.

The Bakel’s Supreme Pie Awards attracts the highest number of entries of all New Zealand food awards, according to Kersel.

He calls the competition the “New Zealand Oscars”.

“Bakers aren't recognised that much, so it's good that we've got something to recognise bakers in New Zealand,” he says.

Entries for the 2025 Bakels Supreme Pie Awards open April 28.