It’s not only the product, but also the producer, with butchery apprentice Rhys Tamanui having been acclaimed best butchery apprentice in New Zealand, headed for a World title event in France next year.
“Being able to supply our team with our own farmed produce ensures the consistency across flavours, and from there our products are hand-made with the utmost care,” Duncan Smith said.
Annabel Tapley-Smith said: “It’s a special moment as we recently farewelled Murray Stephens, who was the previous owner of Waipawa Butchery and a gold award winner himself.”
‘It feels rather special to celebrate this win with our team while we reminisce on 76 years of Waipawa Butchery operating out of the same shop. It’s been a labour of love all these years.”
In time for Hawke’s Bay Anniversary weekend, the team at Waipawa Butchery will be matching increased demand to ensure locals and passionate grill masters from across New Zealand ordering online can enjoy their award-winning beef patties and sausages.
The New World Hastings success has been put down to the initiative of Cissy Morrell, who as butchery manager for 11 years has been determined to win the patty award “some time,” says HR manager Amy Gibbs.
Morrell and store owner-operator Kirk Mander attended the awards ceremony, the success being the second in recent months after their butchery took second place overall and People’s Choice Best Display at the 2024 Pure South Master Butcher Teams Challenge in August.
Gibbs said: “We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of Cissy Morrell and her team with the community. Their recent successes demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication to excellence.”
New World Hastings highlights its commitment to team development through apprenticeships and training, currently with two butchery apprentices and five bakery apprentices.
Century-old Auckland meatery Westmere Butchery received the Supreme Award with its pork and leek sausage, with People’s Choice Award going to Mapari Meats in Mt Wellington, with its venison chorizo sausage, while the other main award outside the sausage categories went to Christchurch butchery Peter Timbs Meats, its Italian meatball being named champion meatball for 2024.
Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 51 years of journalism experience, 40 of them in Hawke’s Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.
