NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2024
After checking, sniffing and tasting more than 250 locally produced cheeses the country’s finest 187 have been awarded medals in the prestigious New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.
Master Judge, Jason Tarrant said the intense judgement affirmed the exceptional quality of locally made cheese. “This is the 21st year of the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards and competition continues recognise the ingenuity, passion, and dedication of Kiwi cheesemakers. The 72 gold, 71 silver and 44 bronze medals are a testament to their relentless pursuit of perfection, sparing no effort to craft cheeses that rival the finest in the world.”
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Wainui Vintage Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Cheddar
SEE Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Epicure
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Tasty Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Organic Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Special Reserve Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Vintage Cheddar
Open Country, Colby
Open Country Dairy, Very Mature Cheddar 8 years (CM)
IFF Farmhouse Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Tuki Farmhouse
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Vintage Maasdam
Mount Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey
Meyer Cheese, Garlic & Chives
Over the Moon Dairy, Volcano
Remutaka Pass, Gold - Chilli
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Rarama
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Special Reserve Chilli & Garlic Brie
Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Chilli Cheddar
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cumin Spice Cheddar
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Peppered Havarti
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Smoked Rinded Cheddar
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Clive Cumino
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Chilli Havarti
Jones Family Farm, Peppered Havarti
Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Creamy Havarti
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker
Simone Lindner, Soft Ripened White Mould Cheese
St Peter’s College, SPC Blue Blue Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Pumahana
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Windsor Blue
New Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Special Reserve Chilli & Garlic Brie
Novenesis Soft Ripened Cheese
Whitestone Cheese Co, Waitaki Camembert
dish Danish-Style or Greek-Style Cheese
Belle Chevre Creamery, Betta than Feta
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Oneroa Feta
Whitestone Cheese Co, Ferry Road Halloumi
Zany Zeus, Cypriot Style Halloumi
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian-Style Cheese
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burrata
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burratina
Zany Zeus, Italian Style Ricotta
Wintec Te Pūkenga Fresh Unripened Cheese
Anabelle Fine Cheese, Crème Fraiche
Anabelle Fine Cheese, Goat Fromage Frais
Belle Chevre Creamery, Chevre
Belle Chevre Creamery, Goat Milk Labneh
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Anchor Easy Mix Cream Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese – 1 kg
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Traditional Cream Cheese
Zany Zeus, Cream Cheese
Zany Zeus, Crème Fraiche
Zany Zeus, Sour Cream
AsureQuality Dutch-Style Cheese
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Gouda Cumin
Mahoe Cheese, Mature Edam
Mahoe Cheese, Very Old Edam
Meyer Cheese, Mild Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Sheep Milk Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Tasty Gouda
IXOM European-Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Parmesan
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Gruyere
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Maasdam
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Pecorino
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego Young
Dairy Works, Talbot Forest Cheese Co. Parmesan
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Creamy Havarti
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Tomme
Whitestone Cheese, Creamy Havarti
Whitestone Cheese, Livingstone Gold
IXOM European Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cheshire
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Parmesan
Jones Family Farm, Creamy Havarti
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Smoked Scamorza
Meyer Cheese, Old Master - King of Parmesan
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Rinded Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Tasty Cheddar
SEE Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mild Cheddar
Open Country, Mild Cheddar
Open Country, Almost Very Mature Cheddar 6 years (CM)
Open Country, Cheddar 2 year (CM)
IFF Farmhouse Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Tuki Tuki Gold
Mount Eliza Cheese, Red Leicester
Over the Moon, Capricorn
Thermaflo Washed Rind
No Silver Medals awarded
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Basil Pesto Cow Feta
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kirīmi Chilli & Garlic
Zany Zeus, Mint Feta
Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cracked Pepper Cheddar
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cold Smoked Pohutukawa Red
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cold Smoked Appletree Cheddar
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Live Chive Cheddar
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Paprika Havarti
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Wood Smoke Cheddar
Hōhepa, Hōhepa Fenugreek
Fonterra Brands NZ, Kāpiti Kānuka Smoked Havarti
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Karikaas Pepper
Jones Family Farm, Chilli Havarti
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Smoked Havarti
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker
Dylan Bailey-Pickering (Wintec Hamilton), Cow’s Milk Gouda, Clove & Cumin
Leanne Havill, Leanneta Style, Fresh Unripened Cheese
Mark Hollands (Wintec Hamilton), Cow’s Milk Gouda, Firm Cheese
Max Durning (Wintec Hamilton), Cow’s Milk Gouda, Onion flakes and rolled in Paprika
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Tasty Lite
Whitestone Cheese Co, Aged Airedale
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Awa Tangy Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Pakiri
New Cheese
No Silver Medal awarded
CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Ash Rind White
Over the Moon, Aroha
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Bouton d'or Double Cream Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Co, Benmore Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Mt Domett Double Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Probiotic Camembert
dish Danish-Style or Greek-Style Cheese
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Brinza Sheep Milk
Zany Zeus, Classic Feta
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Cherry Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella Log
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Smoked Scamorza
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Smoked Stracciatella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Stracciatella
Wintec Te Pūkenga Fresh Unripened Cheese
Anabelle Fine Cheese, Sheep Fromage Frais
Fern Glen Farm, Labneh
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese – 5 kg
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP High Solids Cream Cheese
Zany Zeus, Indian Style Paneer
AsureQuality Dutch-Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kakato Gouda
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Edam
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Brine Salt Gouda
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Cumin/Leyden
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Gouda Vintage
Meyer Cheese, Cumin Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Vintage Cumin
Mahoe Cheese, Edam
Mahoe Cheese, Gouda
The Cheese Barn, Organic Gouda
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Meyer Cheese, Rakau Pepa - Pepper Tree
Over the Moon, Southern Cross
Over the Moon, The cow jumped over the sheep
Whitestone Cheese Co, Farmhouse
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Distinction
Hōhepa, Hōhepa Blue
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Bridge Street Blue
Over the Moon, Sheep Blue
New Cheese
Open Country, New Cheddar (TY)
CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahikatea Camembert
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Akatea Brie
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kohatea Extra Creamy Brie
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Double Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Probiotic Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Camembert
dish Danish-Style or Greek-Style Cheese
Zany Zeus, Creamy Feta
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Ricotta
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Scamorza
Zany Zeus, Mascarpone
Wintec Te Pūkenga Fresh Unripened Cheese
No Bronze Medals awarded
AsureQuality Dutch-Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Cumin Gouda
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Gouda
Hōhepa, Hōhepa Danbo
Meyer Cheese, Goats Milk Gouda
The Cheese Barn, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
The Cheese Barn, Organic Garlic & Chives Gouda
IXOM European Style Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego Vintage
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Maasdam
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Scamorza
Over the Moon, Just Ewe
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Special Reserve Smoked Cheddar
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Glenroy Cheddar
SEE Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Colby
IFF Farmhouse Cheese
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Buffalo Mozzarella
Mount Eliza Cheese, Farmhouse Cheddar
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Over the Moon Dairy, Galactic Gold
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Belle Chevre Creamery, Honey Infused Goat Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kirīmi Herb & Garlic
Zany Zeus, Zingy Chilli Feta
Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Cold Smoked Manuka Havarti
Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Open Country, Young Cheddar
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker
Mike Hannah, Soft Ripened - White Mould Cheese
Haoxuan-Frank Fan (Wintec Hamilton), Cow’s Milk Gouda, Szechuan Pepper - Flavour Added Cheese
Mark Hollands, Cow’s Milk Gouda - Flavour Added Cheese
St Peter’s College, Mountain Road Blue Blue Cheese