Four of the best: Pie shops

Rosalina and Bill Liem of Pukekohe's Greenland Cafe. Photo / Bruce Jarvis

Still a tradition at lunchtime in New Zealand, here's where to go when you just can't beat a pie.

1. Viands Bakery
80 Lyon St, Kihikihi, Te Awamutu

Worth a special visit as your tastebuds will thank you. Shane Kearns won the 2011 Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award with a delectable spiced plum, port and apple pie.

2. Greenland Cafe
Unit 5 28 Subway Rd, Pukekohe

Cambodian husband and wife duo, Bill and Rosalina Liem are passionate about pies. The walls of their Pukekohe Cafe are adorned with a hefty 26 awards from the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards, so it's no surprise 200 pies fly out the door each day.

Try their mince and cheese or steak and cheese, with their renowned flaky top pastry, or the 2010 Gold award-winning vegetarian pies.

And if you are in Botany, drop in to Bill's brother, David Liem's Greenland Bakery - his chicken, bacon and mushroom pie won a Gold award in this year's Supreme Pie Awards.

3. Richoux Patisserie
119 Main Highway, Ellerslie

One of Ellerslie's best kept secrets, Jason Hay is another Gold award winner with his mince and cheese pie, or try the fantastic chicken, cranberry and camembert - big serves, and still under $4 a pie. Yummy.

4. Goldstar Pats Pies
19 Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem Town Centre, Tauranga

Four times Supreme Award winner with a tally of 36 awards Pat Lam's Tauranga bakery is definitely worth a detour. Try this year's Bronze winner: apple, lime, coconut and pineapple pie.