New World has officially crowned the country’s best butcher-made sausage, following a nationwide competition judged by the people of the self-proclaimed ‘sausage capital of New Zealand’, Tuatapere.
Thomas Ramage from New World Alexandra has taken out the top honour with his Beef Cheeseburger sausage, earning the title of New World’s Best Butcher-Made Sausage after being voted the winner by local residents in the Southland town known for taking its sausages very seriously.
After a nationwide search across New World stores, five finalist sausages were selected and brought to Tuatapere for the final judging.
“New World butchers take a huge amount of pride in what they do, and this competition has showcased their incredible skill and creativity across our stores,” said New World Head of Marketing & CX, Giselle Bleakley.
“To see the winner chosen by the people of Tuatapere makes this extra special. It’s a true celebration of craft, community and really great sausages.”
Rather than celebrity chefs or industry experts, the decision sat with locals, who tested and voted on each sausage at a community event. The winning sausage was up against strong competition from finalists around the country, including:
• New World Long Bay (Benjamin Mathis) – Beef, Jalapeño and Cheese Sausage A rich beef sausage with gentle heat from jalapeño and pockets of melted cheese throughout.
• New World Remuera (Jasmine Skeens) – Chicken, Thai Green Coconut Sausage Fragrant Thai green curry flavours, balanced with tender chicken and subtle coconut sweetness.
• New World Waipukurau (Mark Bean) – Smoky Beef Maple Sausage Savoury beef with a hint of smoke, finished with a touch of maple sweetness.
• New World Ferry Road (David May) – Brisket Jalapeño & Cheddar Sausage Deep beefy brisket flavour paired with jalapeño warmth and creamy cheddar.
• New World Alexandra (Thomas Ramage) – Beef Cheeseburger Sausage A nostalgic take on a Kiwi classic, delivering seasoned beef and cheesy richness.
Anne Horrell, Chair of the Tuatapere Community Board, said the town was proud to play such an important role in selecting the winner.
“Sausages are part of Tuatapere’s identity, and locals take this seriously. It’s been fantastic to welcome the finalists and help choose the winning sausage.”
Keep an eye out in participating stores; the winning sausage will be hitting shelves soon.
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