New Zealand’s Best Sausage Crowned for 2024

Auckland’s Westmere Butchery has claimed the top prize at the 27th annual Dunninghams Great New Zealand Sausage Competition. Their pork and leek sausage beat over 800 other entries to win the Supreme Award, announced on Tuesday night.

Judges were impressed with the sausage’s technical quality, taste, and texture. Food writer and judge Kathy Paterson praised the classic blend of pork and leek, saying, “The balance and seasoning were perfect, and the leek was tender, creating a wonderful texture.” Technical judge Brian Everton agreed, noting the sausage’s high-quality ingredients and even distribution.

This competition, which began with 808 products, evaluates sausages in categories such as aroma, texture, and flavour. Over two rounds of judging, top entries in 16 categories competed for the Supreme Award and other titles.

Along with Westmere’s big win, Mapari Meats from Auckland earned the People’s Choice Award for their venison chorizo, voted by the public at a sausage sizzle. In Dunedin, Princes Street Butcher & Kitchen won the Dunninghams Choice Award for their traditional pork sausage.

Here are some of the standout winners from across New Zealand:

Gourmet Beef Sausage: Martinborough Beef & Triple Cheese – Four Square, Martinborough
Meatball Category: Italian Meatballs – Peter Timbs Meats, Christchurch
Flavours of the World: Boerewors – Marbled, Auckland
Gourmet Poultry Sausage: Maple and Sriracha Chicken – Links Quality Meats, Dunedin

With summer just around the corner, these award-winning sausages are ready to hit barbecues across New Zealand, offering delicious options for everyone to enjoy.