Most Awarded Pie in Aotearoa: 2025 Winners & History
There’s a moment in any Kiwi bakery when the glass cabinet reveals a golden-crusted pie that stops you mid order, and in Aotearoa, one name keeps appearing above the rest. Patrick’s Pies, a Gold Star Bakery in Tauranga, has now collected eight Bakels Supreme Pie Awards — more than any other bakery in the country.
Most Supreme wins by a single bakery: 8 (Patrick’s Pies) ·
2025 Supreme Pie Award winner: Patrick’s Pies (roast duck, onion & mushroom) ·
Annual entries: ~600 ·
Location of 2025 winner: Tauranga
Quick snapshot
- Patrick Lam of Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery won his eighth Supreme Pie Award in 2025 (Pie Awards official results)
- The 2025 winning pie was a roast duck, onion and mushroom pie (Facebook mentions)
- Srun Keo from Patrick’s Pies won the 2025 Apprentice Pie Maker competition with a Chicken with Leek and Garlic sauce pie (NZ Bakels)
- The exact number of category-level awards Patrick’s Pies has won across all years is not publicly aggregated (Pie Awards)
- Whether any other bakery holds a record for total awards across all categories is unverified (Pie Awards)
- 2000s: Bakels Supreme Pie Awards established, growing in entries and prestige (Pie Awards)
- 2023: Patrick’s Pies wins seventh Supreme title, setting a then-record (rova)
- July 2025: Patrick’s Pies wins eighth Supreme title; Srun Keo wins Apprentice title (Pie Awards)
- Future Bakels awards will see bakeries compete to dethrone Patrick’s Pies from the top spot (Pie Awards)
- Consumer interest in regional pie varieties may grow as South Island bakeries gain recognition (Pie Awards)
Five key facts, one pattern: the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards have become the definitive benchmark for Kiwi pie excellence, and one bakery dominates the winner’s circle.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Most Supreme titles held by one bakery | 8 (Patrick’s Pies) |
| 2025 Supreme Pie Award winner | Patrick’s Pies (roast duck, onion & mushroom) |
| 2025 Supreme winner’s location | Tauranga, Bay of Plenty |
| Competition entries per year (approx) | 600 |
| 2025 Apprentice Pie Maker winner | Srun Keo (Patrick’s Pies) – Chicken with Leek and Garlic |
What is the most awarded pie bakery in New Zealand?
Patrick’s Pies and its eight Supreme Pie Awards
Patrick Lam, owner of Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery in Tauranga, has won the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Award eight times — a record that no other bakery has come close to matching. The 2025 victory, confirmed on the official Pie Awards results page, marks the eighth time his bakery has taken the top honour. The winning pie this year: a roast duck, onion and mushroom pie, described by social posts as a standout entry.
The earlier seven wins included a celebrated mince and cheese pie that took the Supreme title in prior years. Patrick’s Pies has been called “NZ’s pie king” in Bakels promotional video content, a label his trophy cabinet supports.
Rosedale Bakery & Café’s category win
While Patrick’s Pies took the Supreme prize, Rosedale Bakery & Café in Rosedale, Auckland, won the Potato Top category with a luxury potato top pie, as Instagram coverage shows. That category win then advanced to the Supreme judging round, but the overall title went to Tauranga. The distinction matters: winning a category at the Bakels awards is itself a prestigious achievement, and bakeries such as Rosedale continue to push the quality of New Zealand’s pie craft.
Patrick Lam’s eight Supreme titles demonstrate a consistency that no other Kiwi bakery has matched. For pie lovers, the takeaway is clear: if you want the most decorated pie in the country, head to Tauranga.
The implication: Patrick’s Pies sets the national benchmark, but category winners like Rosedale show the depth of competition across New Zealand.
What are the top 12 pies in the South Island, New Zealand?
South Island bakeries recognized in Bakels awards
Rangiora Bakery in North Canterbury won the 2025 Supreme Award in the Gourmet Meat category with a slow-cooked Sumatra style beef pie, according to the official results. The South Island has a growing reputation for innovative pies, with bakeries in Christchurch, Nelson, and Dunedin regularly picking up category gold medals.
A rova article covering the 2025 awards noted that South Island entries are increasingly competitive, especially in the Gourmet Meat and Mince and Gravy categories.
Regional pie variations in the South Island
South Island bakeries often feature local ingredients — from Canterbury lamb to Bluff oysters — in their award entries. While the exact list of “top 12” pies varies by publication, the Bakels awards provide a credible shortlist of gold winners each year. The diversity of fillings reflects a broader trend: Kiwi pies are moving beyond traditional mince and cheese into gourmet territory, and the South Island is leading much of that evolution.
How do New Zealand pies compare to Australian pies?
Pie culture in both countries
New Zealand and Australia both claim a deep pie culture, but the competition structures differ. New Zealand’s Bakels Supreme Pie Awards, now attracting around 600 entries annually, have a clear national champion system. Australia’s pie landscape is more fragmented, with state-based competitions and events like the “Australia’s favourite pies” contests, though no single national award carries the same weight as the Bakels Supreme title.
Award systems: Bakels vs Australian competitions
The Bakels system uses a multi-category format — including Mince and Gravy, Gourmet Meat, Vegetarian, and Potato Top — with category winners then competing for the Supreme title. Australian equivalents, such as the Great Aussie Pie Competition, follow a similar category structure but lack the unified national branding of the Bakels awards. For a direct comparison, the table below highlights the key contrasts.
| Aspect | New Zealand (Bakels) | Australia (various competitions) |
|---|---|---|
| National supreme award | Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award | No single equivalent — state-level “best pie” titles |
| Annual entries (approx) | 600 | Varies by state; often 100-300 per competition |
| Most decorated bakery | Patrick’s Pies (8 Supreme wins) | No single bakery dominates nationally |
| Category structure | Multiple categories, winner advances to Supreme round | Similar category system but results are state-specific |
The pattern: New Zealand’s centralized award system gives pie lovers a clear benchmark, while Australia’s decentralized approach offers more regional variety but less national clarity.
What are the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards and who won in 2025?
History of the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards
Founded by Bakels New Zealand, the competition began as a small industry event and has grown into the country’s most prestigious pie contest. The official Pie Awards website states that the awards now judge hundreds of entries across multiple categories, with the Supreme title being the highest honour. The competition is open to bakeries from both islands, and winners receive national media coverage.
2025 winners and notable entries
- Supreme Pie Award: Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery (roast duck, onion and mushroom pie) — Pie Awards results
- Apprentice Pie Maker: Srun Keo, Patrick’s Pies (Chicken with Leek and Garlic sauce) — NZ Bakels
- Gourmet Meat Gold: Wild Grain Bakery (Creamy Paua Pie) — Bakels Facebook
- Potato Top Gold: Rosedale Bakery & Café (luxury potato top pie) — Instagram
“The awards have grown significantly. We now receive around 600 entries from bakeries all over New Zealand, and the standard gets higher every year.”
— Bakels spokesperson, as reported by rova
Categories and judging criteria
Entries are judged on appearance, pastry quality, filling flavour and texture, and overall originality. Category winners are selected first, then the Supreme winner is chosen from among the category gold medallists. The judging panel includes pastry chefs and industry experts.
What this means: The Bakels awards set a clear quality standard for Kiwi pies, with a rigorous judging process that elevates the best entries.
Which bakeries have won the most Supreme Pie Awards?
Patrick’s Pies: Eight-time Supreme winner
Patrick Lam’s bakery in Tauranga holds the undisputed record. The eighth win in 2025 extends a legacy that began with earlier Supreme titles. As noted on the Pie Awards site, Patrick’s Pies has become synonymous with excellence in New Zealand pie making.
“Winning the eighth Supreme title shows the team’s dedication. We never stop refining our recipes.”
— Patrick Lam, owner of Patrick’s Pies, as quoted in rova
Other bakeries with multiple wins
While no other bakery comes close to Patrick’s Pies’ tally, several have won the Supreme title two or three times over the years. Bakeries such as Rangiora Bakery (North Canterbury) and Rosedale Bakery & Café (Auckland) have consistently placed in category top spots. The geographic spread — from Tauranga to Christchurch — shows that award-winning pies are not confined to one region.
For anyone seeking the most awarded pie in Aotearoa, the choice is straightforward: Patrick’s Pies in Tauranga. But the broader lesson is that New Zealand’s pie scene is vibrant from North to South, with regional bakeries challenging the status quo every year.
The pattern: Patrick’s Pies remains the benchmark, but the competition is deepening across the country.
Timeline: Key milestones in Bakels Supreme Pie Awards history
- 2000s: Bakels Supreme Pie Awards established, growing in entries and prestige. (Pie Awards)
- 2023: Patrick’s Pies wins seventh Supreme Pie Award, setting a record. (rova)
- July 2025: Patrick’s Pies wins eighth Supreme title with roast duck, onion and mushroom pie; Srun Keo wins Apprentice Pie Maker. (Pie Awards)
Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Patrick Lam has won the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award eight times (Pie Awards)
- Patrick’s Pies won the 2025 Supreme title with a roast duck, onion and mushroom pie (Pie Awards)
- Srun Keo from Patrick’s Pies won the 2025 Apprentice Pie Maker competition (NZ Bakels)
What’s unclear
- Whether Rosedale Bakery & Café won the overall Supreme title (reports indicate it won the Potato Top category, not the Supreme; some initial coverage was ambiguous)
- The total number of category gold medals Patrick’s Pies has accumulated across all years is not publicly aggregated
- Whether any other bakery holds a record for total awards across all categories (unverified)
- Whether the 2025 competition received exactly 600 entries is approximate and not officially confirmed as an exact count
- Whether Rangiora Bakery’s Gourmet Meat gold is considered a “Supreme Award” in the same tier as the overall Supreme title remains unclear in some reporting
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For context on the latest champions, see Rosedales 2025 Supreme Pie Award win which details how Rosedale’s Savoury Pie Company dethroned long-time leader Patrick’s Pies in the 2025 competition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Zealand famous pie?
New Zealand’s most famous pie is often considered the mince and cheese pie, but the most celebrated specific pie is Patrick’s Pies’ award-winning creations, including their roast duck, onion and mushroom pie that took the 2025 Supreme title.
What is the best pie in Australia?
Australia’s favourite pie varies by region and competition. Events like the Great Aussie Pie Competition crown category winners, but there is no single national equivalent to New Zealand’s Bakels Supreme title.
Who won the first Great Kiwi Bake Off?
The first season of The Great Kiwi Bake Off aired in 2018 and was won by baker Sam Wood. This television competition is separate from the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards.
What is the famous dish of New Zealand?
New Zealand’s famous dishes include the meat pie, lamb, pavlova, and fish and chips. The meat pie, especially varieties like mince and cheese, is a national staple and celebrated through the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards.
Are Australian or New Zealand pies better?
Taste is subjective, but New Zealand pies have a formal national champion system through the Bakels awards, which provides a consistent quality benchmark. Both countries produce excellent pies with distinct regional styles.
What is Australia’s favorite pie?
In Australia, the meat pie topped with tomato sauce is the classic favourite. State-based competitions recognise top pies but no single winner is universally considered the national favourite.
What are the most awarded pies in Aotearoa?
Patrick’s Pies (Tauranga) leads with eight Supreme Pie Awards. Other top contenders include Rosedale Bakery & Café and Rangiora Bakery, which have won multiple category gold medals.
Where can I find the most awarded pie in Aotearoa?
Visit Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery at 6/7 Brookfield Terrace, Tauranga. Their award-winning pies are available daily, and they regularly introduce new varieties.
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