Pak'nSave Kaitaia's Abigail Smith still has a few weeks left as the reigning Retail Meat Industry Training Organisation Butcher Apprentice of the Year, but she now has her sights set on a new prize, the crown as Young Butcher of the year.
No one has ever won those two titles in successive years, but Abi took the first step to making history when she won the regional final in Auckland last week, although she shared the honours with a contender from Victoria Park New World.
RMNZ spokesman Kim Doran said the standard had been very high. The competition in Auckland was always fierce, and this year had been no exception.
Jared McLeod, from Regent New World in Whangarei, topped the apprentice class, all three regional winners, who negotiated an exam, an interview and a two-hour practical test, now preparing for the grand final in Auckland on August 24.
The national champion young butcher and apprentice will win study tours to Europe and Australia respectively.
