Horse Meat Pie Sales Halted at Auckland Bakery After Council Investigation

By Lions Roar Aotearoa Food & Safety Desk

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Monday, January 26, 2026) — A popular Pakuranga bakery has been forced to pull its viral “lo’i hoosi” pies from the shelves after Auckland Council discovered the horse meat used was not sourced from a registered supplier for human consumption.

The pies, which featured a traditional Tongan horse meat dish, became a social media sensation before Christmas, drawing crowds and rave reviews to the Pakuranga Bakery. However, the success was short-lived following a public complaint that triggered an immediate council inspection.

⚠️ The “Unregistered” Ingredient

While eating horse meat is legal in New Zealand, the law strictly dictates that any meat sold for human consumption must be processed through registered, regulated facilities.

The Inspection: Veronica Lee-Thompson, Auckland Council’s manager of specialist operations, confirmed that inspectors found the meat was not from a registered supplier.
The Risk: Authorities warned that “illegal meat” poses significant health risks, including potential bacterial contamination, unhygienic processing conditions, or the presence of harmful chemicals.
Cooperation: The bakery manager, Pho Bok, cooperated fully, disposing of all remaining horse meat and pre-made pies on-site.

🍽️ The Source of the “Lo’i Hoosi”

The bakery manager explained that they did not prepare the filling themselves but purchased it pre-made to meet high customer demand.

“We just went to buy the filling from a Tongan guy,” Bok told First Up. “I did ask them if they are a registered business—they said yes. I asked if the horse meat was legal to eat, and they said yes.”

Despite these assurances, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) notes there is currently only one meat processor in New Zealand registered to slaughter and process horse meat for human consumption.

📊 Legal & Safety Breakdown: Horse Meat in NZ

Feature	Regulation
Legality	Legal to consume, but must be from a registered processor.
Current Status	Only one registered horse meat processor exists in NZ.
Health Risks	Bacteria, disease, cross-contamination, and chemical residue.
Penalties	Fines up to $100,000 or 1 year in prison for knowingly selling unfit meat.
Bakery Status	Not under investigation; cooperating with authorities.

⚖️ Investigations Ongoing

Auckland Council confirmed there have been no reports of sickness related to the pies. While the bakery itself is not under investigation, New Zealand Food Safety has launched a probe to identify the illegal source of the meat.

The bakery has returned to selling its standard range of pies, while the “lo’i hoosi” remains a memory of a brief, controversial culinary trend.