THE ULTIMATE KIWI PIE

Chatham Island Food Co Pāua Pies, made in collaboration with West Coast Pies in Westport, have been a smash hit since launching in November 2021. The success is particularly pleasing for Delwyn and Gigi, who had long dreamed of creating a pie with pāua.

“We wanted to make the best pāua pie in New Zealand, and we’d had the idea for ages, but we already had three little kids,

25 staff and 30 fishing boats to be looking after. We didn’t have time to make pies,” Delwyn says.

The idea went on ice until Gigi met

Emily Lucas of West Coast Pies at the 2021 Auckland Food Show. “The pie idea wasn’t really going anywhere, but then we met Emily, and we just clicked. The West Coast and the Chathams are both so remote, it just felt right. We’re a magic mix.”

Emily sent some test pies to the Tuanuis in November 2021. “We got the family round to try them, and we knew we were on to something.” “The pies are great because everyone can understand them,” Delwyn says. “They’re so Kiwiana; they’re not snobby, they’re fun. Emily’s really creative, so this is just the beginning.”