Tauranga’s pie makers have again proved they can stand alongside the country’s best, picking up podium finishes and multiple top-10 rankings at the 2026 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards.

While Auckland’s Levain Artisan Bakery claimed the coveted Supreme Pie title with its gold medal-winning bacon and egg pie, Bay of Plenty bakers made their presence felt across several fiercely contested categories.

Leading the local charge was Patrick’s Pie Group in Bethlehem, where baker Patrick Lam earned a bronze award in the Vegetarian category for a pie featuring stir-fried vegetables, potato, kūmara, pumpkin and spinach in a creamy cheese sauce, a media release from the awards said.

The bronze medal capped a strong showing for Patrick’s Pie Group, which also finished fifth in Chicken & Vegetables, sixth in Potato Top, and seventh in Steak & Gravy.

Greerton’s Baker Bobs Bakery & Cafe also featured among the nation’s best. Baker Geemun Chao secured ninth place in the Gourmet Meat category with a braised pork belly, mushroom and cheese pie flavoured with five-spice curry, while also placing 10th in Mince & Cheese.

The city’s broader baking community also gained recognition.

Allergy and Wheatfree Delights in Welcome Bay placed eighth in the Café Boutique category with a passionfruit lime meringue pie, demonstrating that sweet pie creations can compete with traditional savoury favourites.

Meanwhile, Mount Maunganui’s Bake Shack Bakery earned a Highly Commended award in the Commercial/Wholesale category with what judges described as a classic Supreme pie.

The annual awards are regarded as the benchmark for pie-making excellence in New Zealand, attracting hundreds of entries from bakeries around the country.

NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said the competition showcased both traditional Kiwi favourites and increasingly innovative flavour combinations.

Categories such as Steak & Cheese and Mince & Cheese once again attracted the highest number of entries, while Gourmet Meat judges sampled creations ranging from creamy pāua to international-inspired fillings.

Although Tauranga did not claim a category gold this year, the city’s strong spread of placings across multiple categories highlighted the depth of local baking talent.

With a bronze medal, a highly commended award and numerous top-10 finishes, Bay of Plenty bakers showed they remain serious contenders on the national pie stage.

Tauranga and Western Bay results at a glance

Patrick’s Pie Group, Bethlehem

Bronze: Vegetarian

5th: Chicken & Vegetables

6th: Potato Top

7th: Steak & Gravy

Baker Bobs Bakery & Cafe, Greerton

9th: Gourmet Meat

10th: Mince & Cheese

Allergy and Wheatfree Delights, Welcome Bay

8th: Café Boutique

Bake Shack Bakery, Mount Maunganui

Highly Commended: Commercial/Wholesale