Thursday night's battle of the butchers in Auckland. Photo: Supplied
The knives were sharpened and bandsaws hummed at Thursday night's battle of the butchers in Auckland - and history was made with half the apprentice and young butcher finalists being female.
The awards test butchers on both practical skills and theory, with finalists coming through regional competitions from around the country.
The chief judge of the Young Butcher of the Year and Butcher Apprentice of the Year awards -who was also a butcher trainer - Peter Martin, said in the past few years there had been more young women entering the trade with numbers now sitting about 20 percent.
Martin reckoned that was the first time in the history of New Zealand female numbers had been that strong.
The upward trend was mirrored in general apprentice butcher numbers, too, he said.
"Right at this moment we probably have more apprentices than we've had for 20 years, signed into training agreements. Having said that though, like every industry there is still a shortage of skilled labour so I would think employers would still be saying 'Hey we would like even more.'
"It's a great industry to be in. You'll always have a job. Economic up-turn, down-turn, people still need dinner."
Luka Young from Pak 'n Save Kaitāia won the Young Butcher of the Year title, and Morgan Moore from New World in Motueka is Butcher Apprentice of the Year.
Luka Young Photo: Supplied
In Moore's case she swapped the type of muscle she looked at; going from being a personal trainer to a handler of animal muscles.
"I did my degree in personal training, and muscles have always fascinated. Then I got married to a farmer and we've always done our own home kill and I just really loved that. I saw this amazing vision of 'What if we could produce our own meat and other people could enjoy this experience' and so I gave the apprenticeship a go and I've loved it ever since," she said.
As a couple their biggest dream had been to do a paddock to plate business because they saw it as a way to showcase primary industries.
"It would be be really cool for my husband to do his farming, what he's passionate about and me to do the butchery. For us to be able to marry those two together and so the big plan is 'Come on over to Nelson and we'll have some beautiful meat ready for you'," Moore said.
Her next immediate challenge was working for a home kill operator so she could learn extra skills like slaughtering an animal and smoking and curing meat.
"There's so much for me to learn, but definitely in the next few years you'll be seeing my name out there," she said.
Morgan Moore Photo: Supplied
Both Young and Moore won a trip to Paris for the world butchers' challenge.
At the other end of the spectrum, the individual cutting and sawing competition was a Master Butcher Teams Challenge, which was the chance for the masters of the industry to throw around some butcher banter and put their teamwork to the test to create the most elaborate display.
This year saw four teams of three qualified master butchers showcase their finely tuned craft with two hours to break down a whole lamb and a beef hindquarter. It was a close contest but it was Team Cowboys; made up of James Smith, aka The Tattooed Butcher, Craig Haize and Charles Compston both from Franklin Meats, who claimed the top prize with a cutting edge display.
Smith, who has been a regular face at butchery competitions, led his team to a perfect score, a first for the competition.
"Winning the competition, and hearing we got a perfect score takes this night to another level.
"Last year we didn't finish our display and came second, so we knew what we needed to do. This year we came in with the intention of finishing and doing something that really wowed everyone. The display came out really well, we worked really well as a team and overall, it made it a little bit more perfect."
Head judge for the teams' challenge, Todd Heller, said the winning team broke an all-time record receiving the perfect score.
"We were looking for excellent teamwork with a display at the end that was saleable and cookable, and that is what The Cowboys brought to the competition - they were faultless," Heller said.
The judges. Photo: Supplied
