American competitive eater Matthew Stonie can chug down 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The 23-year-old, who can also put away 25 Big Macs in 22 minutes, is the champion of American competition Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Now, Rye American Kitchen on Wharf Street in Tauranga is searching for a similar hot dog-eating machine in its version of the tournament.

Warren Lippi-Smith (left) and Josh Fitzgerald. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Tauranga's big eaters have the chance to put their money where their mouth is at the restaurant's 1st Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in support of men's health on Thursday (November 26).

Obviously we're not talking about dietary health here. Who knows what 66 hot dogs could do to the waistline?

We're talking about supporting Movember, the initiative raising awareness of men's health through the power of a moustache.

Funds from the competition will go towards the Movember Foundation – a global charity raising funds for programmes focussing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

Rye manager Jay Kolenski says the competition is open to representatives from 10 city businesses to shove down as many American hot dogs as they can in 10 minutes.

'We'll also choose two wild cards from the community to participate,” says Jay.

Wild cards will be chosen from commenters on the restaurant's Facebook event page ‘Rye's 1st Annual Hotdog Eating Competition'.

Jay says the competition is based on Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

'We've taken some of the rules from the American version so we can make it feel like a proper hot dog-eating competition.”

The rules state competitors must eat as many hot dogs, bun and dog, as fast as they can within a 10 minute time limit.

Beverages and condiments are permitted, but not recommended.

Penalty cards are issued for ‘reversal of fortune', or disgorging any hot dogs into a bucket, and will result in disqualification. Penalties are also issued for messy eating.

Any hot dogs in a competitor's mouth at the end of the 10 minutes count, as long as they are swallowed.

Accompanied by scorekeepers, competitors receive one point for every hot dog and bun consumed. First prize is a $300 restaurant voucher.

Jay says the primary goal of the competition is to raise money for, and awareness of, men's health in New Zealand and worldwide. 'The aim is to raise about $2000.”

And 20 per cent of all sales at Rye on November 26 will also be donated to Movember Foundation.

All funds donated from customers during November will go to the restaurant's Movember website, which donates funds raised straight to Movember Foundation.

The event is sponsored by Kale Print and Mills Reef Winery, which is donating funds from every glass or bottle sold on the night.

Rye American Kitchen's 1st Annual Hot Dog Eating Competition is on Thursday, November 26. Pre-game warm ups begin 6pm, competition begins 7pm. Entry is free but donations are welcome.