Wanganui's pie masters are looking to top the country again when judging in the annual Bakels New Zealand Pie awards begins tomorrow.
The city's king of the national competition, Cameron Butchart, returns after taking gold for his steak, vegetable and gravy pie last year. It was a deserved win for the Wanganui man following 15 top 10 places, in various categories over nine years. The Gonville baker has only missed out on a top 10 in one year. This time he would again enter every category he was eligible for to up his chances.
He said while work commitments made it hard to find time to be creative, he will tinker with some ideas and back his experience. "It's a little bit of pressure. I've just gotta role the dice ..."
Mr Butchart attended the awards ceremony in Auckland last year and said the win was good promotion for Wanganui.
Also bringing past success to this year's competition is Element Caf. It won a silver award for its chicken, pistachio and cranberry pie in the gourmet meat category in 2011.
Element co-owner and chef Iolie Murphy said she had been developing a pie to enter the gourmet section again.
She said this year's entry had already been tested on customers with good feedback.
141 Bakery will be entering for the fourth time in a number of categories. Spokeswoman Srey Chhim said they would be entering a range of their tried and true pies but not making one especially for the event.
Entries from the central North Island have increased by 24 per cent.