Good pies are one thing Tauranga residents don't have to go without with 31 local entries in the 2014 Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.
The baked dishes were judged on Thursday night and category winners as well as the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Award will be announced on Tuesday night.
Entries from the central North Island soared by 24 per cent this year while there were record numbers nationwide.
Awards spokesman Jonathan Killick said they received nearly 5000 pies from 533 bakers.
"We had such a huge number so it was a game of odds ... Everyone put their best pie forward so it was very high quality."