Terms and Conditions

1. Entries must be on the official online form. Entries close Thursday 7 May, 2026.

2. Competitors must agree to abide by all the rules and judges’ decisions. These decisions are final and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into.

3. If an apprentice entering the competition works for a store that is not a member of Retail Meat New Zealand, the apprentice through their Skills4Work apprenticeship may enter the regional competitions without their store becoming an RMNZ member. However, if the apprentice makes it to the Grand Final competition, the store will be required to become a member of Retail Meat New Zealand or make an agreed financial contribution for the apprentice to be given a place as a finalist.

4. If a young butcher entering the competition works for a store that is not a member of Retail Meat New Zealand, we will require that store to become a member of Retail Meat New Zealand for the young butcher to enter the competition.

5. Confirmation of a place at the Grand Final will be determined by Retail Meat New Zealand management in consultation with the head judge. Management reserves the right to refuse an entrant from competing in the regional or Grand Final, within reason, and in the case of the Grand Final to select the highest scoring entrant as a replacement.

6. Entrants who are unable to participate in a regional or the Grand Final must advise the event organisers two weeks before the regional or Grand Final takes place. Failure to do so will result in the employer being invoiced a $250+gst fee.

7. Entrants in the Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year must be 35 years old or under, on the date of the Grand Final, Thursday 13 August, 2026.

8. Previous winners of the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year may enter the contest again in this category. Previous winners of the Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year may not enter this contest again and are encouraged to enter the Teams Challenge.

9. The winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the next World Butchers’ Challenge and the opportunity to be selected to represent New Zealand at the World Champion Butcher Apprentice competition as a member of the ANZCO Foods Young Butchers of New Zealand Team (entry requirements permitting), as part of the World Butchers’ Challenge.

10. If required, entrants in the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year regional must provide proof of competency using butchery equipment, specifically bandsaws and mincers. This must be in the form of an official training document and it must be signed off by a representative of the entrant’s training provider.

11. Participants must attend a pre-competition briefing on the day of the competitions. The venue and time will be advised to all entrants.

12. The only meat to be displayed is that supplied by the organisers.

13. Participants must be currently working within the district covered by the competition at the time of the regional and Grand Final. There may be exceptions to this rule due to location numbers, these will be determined by Retail Meat New Zealand.

14. The dress code for the regional and Grand Final is a shirt and tie, trousers (no jeans), suitable footwear and an apron, or the employer’s uniform. Hats must be worn. Steel mesh gloves and aprons are compulsory to wear during both regional and grand final competitions.

15. In the Grand Final, special uniform conditions may apply, this will be communicated to finalists.

16. All judging sheets and question papers remain the property of Retail Meat New Zealand.

17. The winner (or a runner-up selected as a deputy if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances) will be invited to represent each district at the Grand Final at the Eventfinda Stadium, in Auckland, on Thursday 13 August, 2026.

18. Costs of return airfare to Auckland, local transport, meals and accommodation in Auckland will be covered for all finalists provided they are Retail Meat New Zealand members. If you live in the Auckland region, we may not offer accommodation.

19. Time away from work to take part in the competition is not a cost to the event organisers, Retail Meat New Zealand. If you make the Grand Final, your employer should agree to pay your wages as normal. Transport, accommodation and a meal allowance will be provided for those travelling from outside of Auckland for the Grand Final.

20. Competitors must use the Pact Packaging trays supplied specifically for the competition. Entrants will receive details of these.

21. All competitors must agree to participate in promotion and reporting of the competition and to the use of their personal details for those purposes.

22. In the case that an apprentice contestant wins the Grand Final two years in a row, Retail Meat New Zealand may design an alternative international study tour as the Grand Prize.

23. In the case that the World Butchers’ Challenge does not go ahead, Retail Meat New Zealand may design an alternative international study tour as the Grand Final prize.

24. Competitors participate at their own risk, must follow all competition Health & Safety requirements, and may be removed or disqualified for unsafe conduct; RMNZ limits liability to the extent permitted by law.

25. RMNZ may disqualify any entrant for rule breaches, misconduct, false information or behaviour that damages the competition’s reputation.

26. RMNZ may amend, postpone, relocate or cancel the competition, including changing format or prizes, if circumstances require it.

27. Competitors consent to being photographed or filmed and grant RMNZ and sponsors ongoing rights to use their name and image for promotional purposes without additional payment.

28. Personal information will be collected and used in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and may be shared with sponsors for competition administration.

Last update 27 February 2026

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle on 09 489 0879 or michelle@rmnz.co.nz