Tauranga’s butchers have brought home a sizzling set of accolades from the 2025 Dunninghams Great New Zealand Sausage Competition.

The event, now in its 28th year, showcased more than 800 entries from across the country, and local butchers from Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty and Coromandel regions earned top honours.

Thomson’s Butchery - pictured are Kurt and Rachel Thomson - took home three awards. Photo / Retail Meat New ZealandThomson’s Butchery - pictured are Kurt and Rachel Thomson - took home three awards. Photo / Retail Meat New Zealand

Leading the local charge was Thomson’s Butchery, which claimed the Category Champion title for its Pure Beef sausage. The Tauranga-based butchery also secured a Gold medal for its San Choy Bow sausage and a Silver for its Lamb, Apricot, Pistachio & Harissa creation.

Jason Pears from Kiwi Fresh Meats. The butchery also won three awards. Photo / Retail Meat New Zealand

Another Tauranga winner was Kiwi Fresh Meats, which earned Gold medals for its Brisket and Truffle Butter, and Shallots and Chilli Cheese Griller sausages. Its Cheese Griller picked up a Silver.

Blackforest Gourmet Butchery’s Robin Mueck with the silver award for their Smoked Bratwurst/Rookwurst. Photo / Retail Meat New Zealand

Blackforest Gourmet Butchery, another Tauranga standout, was awarded a Silver for its Smoked Bratwurst/Rookwurst.

Regional butchers also made their mark:

The Supreme Award went to Auckland’s Westmere Butchery for its Beef, Parmesan and Truffle sausage, praised by judges for its exceptional flavour, balance and technical execution.

The People’s Choice Award was claimed by Pokeno Bacon for its Chicken Con Queso sausage, while Prime Meats took home the Dunninghams’ Choice Award for its Tobiko Pork and Prawn sausage.

Technical judge Brian Everton, of Cabernet Foods, said the winning sausages demonstrated the importance of precision and creativity in sausage-making.

“Just like baking a great cake, the mixing, timing, and measure of ingredients are imperative to producing an award-winning sausage,” he said.

-Retail Meat New Zealand