THE PIE OF YOUR DREAMS

Leftover lamb shanks were the inspiration for a range of pies that are beloved of Otago Rail Trail cyclists and locals alike.

It’s an undeniable fact that Kiwis love their pies, and The Waipiata Pie Company is serving up some of the country’s best.

Deciding what’s on the menu is a community effort, with the staff often enlisting the help of customers for flavour ideas. “We’re always looking for suggestions on what flavours to do,” says owner Mark Button. “People will come in to try different flavours all the time, and people are quite passionate so it’s good to talk to them about it.”

Waipiata boasts a population of just 17 people, 30 dogs and 30,000 sheep, so you wouldn’t think too many suggestions would come in. But being positioned right on the Otago Central Rail Trail, means there are plenty of visitors. In 2018 they had a record 17,500 go past the company’s doorstop from the rail trail. Plus, about half of the business’ customers are locals from the wider area. “We have people coming from an hour away to have meals, then travel on to have a weekend away,” says Button. “Everybody’s heard about the pies and they choose to stay here because of it.”

The Waipiata Pie Company forms part of Waipiata Country Hotel, which Button and his wife Nikki purchased in 2015 to add to their accommodation business on the Rail Trail.

The pies came about after an experiment with some lamb shanks left over from a buffet at the pub. “We thought we’d try it in pastry, because everything’s pretty good in pastry, so it was a bit of a joke,” says Button. They discovered the pies were rather tasty, and the rest is history. “Now we’ve got 14 flavours of pie and, in the height of the season, we’re selling more than 1000 a week.”

Waipiata Country Hotel has enjoyed plenty of support since it reopened post-lockdown. “It’s been fantastic; it’s a really close community, and the wider Maniototo community has been really good,” says Button.

Waipiata Country Hotel is currently enjoying the success of a newly launched online-ordering portal, Waipiata Eats, with lockdown providing the perfect opportunity to establish it. “We’re doing about 500 to 600 takeaway meals a week at the moment through the portal, so it’s great,” says Button. waipiataeats.co.nz

Above: Waipiata Pie Company’s Dykes Dam Pie: tender lamb shanks cooked low and slow in a Tannacrieff port and red wine gravy, encased in a crusty pastry.