A Papamoa butcher has claimed a coveted spot in the grand final of the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition.

Monika Remešová from PAK'nSAVE in Papamoa sharpened her knives and carved her way to success in the Waikato/Central North Island regional competition in Hamilton last week, beating off eleven fellow competitors.

Twenty-seven-year-old Monika is in her second year as an apprentice butcher. Originally trained as a civil engineer, she moved on to find joy in the butchery trade.

'I feel so happy winning this regional competition,” says Monika.

'This is my first butchery competition and it's a great honour to win and be able to represent the retail meat industry.”

Monika says she had an amazing support network around her in the lead up to the competition, including a mentor who helped her through the first steps in preparing for the cutting test.

'For the grand final I will be focusing on time management and the finer details in the hoping of winning the grand title.”

The competition was part of a national series being held around the country to find New Zealand's top butchers to compete in a grand final showdown in August.

Contestants put their butchery skills to the test by boning, trimming, slicing and dicing their way through a two-hour competition.

They were tasked with breaking down a size 20 chicken, a full pork loin, a lamb leg, and a prime steer d-rump into a display of value-added products while being closely watched and scrutinised by judges.

Head Judge Peter Martin, who is the Butchery Training Advisor at Skills4Work in Auckland, says that he continues to see year on year, a very high standard of work coming from the butchery trade which makes for an exciting and competitive competition.

'Monika put on a very good cutting and display performance which saw her take the win,” says Peter.

'The Waikato/Central North Island regional was the best standard I can recall - the region is full of excellent apprentice butchers which is great for the trade.”

Alongside industry and peer recognition, the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year will receive a coveted trophy and an all-expenses paid trip to the next World Butchers' Challenge in 2025 with the opportunity to represent New Zealand in the ANZCO Foods Young Butchers of New Zealand team.

The competition is proudly sponsored by Pact Packaging, ANZCO Foods, Dunninghams, Hellers, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Skills4Work, Tegel, Victory Knives, Wilson Hellaby, Anago, Rum and Que and Newly Weds.