Waikato and Wairarapa butchers win awards at national sausage competition
Thursday 15 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated 
Butchers from Waikato and Wairarapa secured multiple medals at the 2026 Dunninghams Great New Zealand Sausage Competition. Auckland's Mapari Meats won the Supreme Award for its Birria Taco-flavoured sausage. This year's event saw a record 869 entries from 126 producers across the country.
Key facts
5 facts
- Mapari Meats won the supreme award for its Birria Taco sausage
- The 2026 competition received 869 entries from 126 makers
- The competition featured 13 different sausage categories
- The event is currently in its 29th year
- Well Hung Butchery won the People's Choice Award
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Mapari Meats from Auckland has won the supreme award at the 2026 Dunninghams Great New Zealand Sausage Competition for its Birria Taco-flavoured sausage. The winning sausage was praised by judges for its Mexican-inspired flavours, including chilli, clove and cinnamon.
The competition, now in its 29th year, received a record 869 entries from 126 sausage makers across the country. Judges, including butchers, chefs and food writers, evaluated entries across 13 different categories based on taste, aroma, appearance, texture and technical composition.
Waikato and Taumarunui butchers achieved significant success, with Moos Baas and Oinks in Tīrau winning Category Champion for its pure pork sausage and silver for its Cumberland sausage. Absolute Meats in Taumarunui also secured a Category Champion title for its beef sausage.
Other notable winners included Well Hung Butchery in Auckland, which received the People’s Choice Award for its chicken, brie and cranberry sausage. In Wairarapa, P&K Four Square Martinborough won gold for its Carbonara sausage, while Greytown Butchery was named Category Champion for its Moroccan lamb and raisin sausage.
Where reports differ
- One report notes the competition had more than 67 medal winners, while another specifies the number of entries and makers
Compiled from reports by Waikato Times, 1News and The Post.