Waikato’s best pies found in Hamilton, Tīrau, Tuakau, Taupō

According to the recent Bakels NZ Pie Awards, the best pies in Waikato can be found in Tīrau, Tuakau, Hamilton and Taupō.
Waikato pies featured highly at the awards with six local bakeries receiving bronze and silver awards for their creations.
In total, the awards received 5000 entries from 545 bakers across 11 categories this year.
All judging is blind – pies are identified by a number and ingredients are listed, but judges have no way of knowing who made the pie or where it came from.
Pie Awards veteran Shane Kearns, of Tīrau’s The Baker, has taken out a bronze award for his steak & cheese pie.
“Thank you everyone for the great support,” Shane said on social media.
“Really appreciate it. We’re going for gold next year. Stay tuned.”
The Baker announced the win on social media sharing a graphic of the award captioned “So stoked for this! Thanks @supremepieawards such a fabulous night.”
Shane, together with his wife Kathy, won Supreme Pie Awards in 2011 and 2012 as well as in 2017 when they were running Viands Bakery in Kihikihi.
Meanwhile, Avina Tran of Taupō’s Paetiki Bakery won a bronze award in the vegetarian category for their pumpkin, broccoli, potato and mushroom pie.
Paetiki Bakery is also a Pie Awards veteran, having won gold awards in 2012, 2014 and 2023 and silver awards in 2014 and 2015.
In the category Gourmet Meat, Srieng Choeu, of Tuakau’s Fresh Bun Café, took out a bronze award for a scallop with creamy white sauce pie.
Last year, Srieng took out a gold award in the category steak and gravy, while earning a highly commended for the bacon and egg pie.
In 2016, Srieng’s chicken and vegetable pie was highly commended while the steak and gravy pie took out a silver award.
The final bronze award was taken out by Seila Ly, of Hamilton’s Hillcrest Bakery and Cafe, for the bacon and egg pie.
Waikato’s silver awards were taken out by Soem Top of Hamilton’s Dinsdale Bakery for his mince and gravy pie and Songheng Sor, of Hamilton’s High Bakery & Cafe in the category vegetarian for his spinach, mushroom and onion pie.
The first Bakels Pie Awards were held in 1996 to help the baking industry keep on improving and innovating.
The below list just features categories that include winners from Waikato. In total, there were 11 categories this year.
Steak & Cheese
Gold Award: Tola Chhunleng, Freemans Bakery and Cafe, Glenfield, Auckland
Silver Award: Tina Yi, Mairangi Bay Bakery, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
Bronze Award: Shane Kearns, The Baker, Tīrau
Highly Commended: Sopheap Long, Euro Patisserie Torbay, Torbay, Auckland
Gourmet Meat
Gold Award: Arlyn Thompson, Rangiora Bakery, Rangiora – Slow-cooked Sumatra-style beef pie
Silver Award: Jason Hay, Richoux Patisserie Ellerslie, Ellerslie, Auckland – Maui’s Mana Pie
Bronze Award: Srieng Choeu, Fresh Bun Café, Tuakau – Scallop with creamy white sauce pie
Highly Commended: Murray Gray, Mataura Mutton Pies, Mataura – Mutton mince and breadcrumbs pie
Bacon & Egg
Gold Award: Cheth Bun, Eurobake Espresso Ltd, Kumeū, Auckland
Silver Award: Theara Keo, Taste Bakery and Roast, Henderson, Auckland
Bronze Award: Seila Ly, Hillcrest Bakery and Cafe, Hamilton
Highly Commended: Tola Chhunleng, Freemans Bakery and Cafe, Glenfield, Auckland
Mince & Gravy
Gold Award: Arlyn Thompson, Rangiora Bakery, Rangiora
Silver Award: Mr Soem Top, Dinsdale Bakery, Hamilton
Bronze Award: Tina Yi, Mairangi Bay Bakery, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
Highly Commended: Jason Hay, Richoux Patisserie Ellerslie, Ellerslie, Auckland
Vegetarian
Gold Award: Patrick Lam, Patrick’s Pie Group Limited, Tauranga – Stir-fried vegetable with potato pie
Silver Award: Songheng Sor, High Bakery & Café, Silverdale, Hamilton – Spinach, mushroom and onion pie
Bronze Award: Avina Tran, Paetiki Bakery, Taupō – Pumpkin, broccoli, potato and mushroom pie
Highly Commended: Kaing Sok, My Bakery Cafe, Glen Eden, Auckland – Creamy spinach and vegetable mix with camembert pie

Danielle Zollickhofer is a multimedia journalist and assistant news director at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.
Stay up to date with the Waikato Herald
Get the latest Waikato headlines straight to your inbox Monday to Saturday. Register for free today – click here and choose Local News.