Our Story
Mangawhai Meat Shop, owned and run by the Klink Family, is a local community butchery known for providing quality fresh cuts of pork, beef, chicken, and lamb, as well as a wide range of award-winning sausages, premade kebabs, kaftas, marinades, and pre-made meals. Our mission is to passionately and consistently provide our community with the highest quality meats, expertly sourced and prepared with dedication to excellence, ensuring every customer enjoys superior flavour and satisfaction with every purchase.
Dan's Journey
Dan, our master butcher, has always had a strong passion for food. As a young man, he dreamed of becoming a chef. However, after spending one summer working in the butchery industry, he quickly realised that this was the perfect career for him. Dan's journey began with his apprenticeship at Mangawhai Meat Shop around 2005-2006. After completing his apprenticeship, his parents bought the butchery, keeping it in the family for nearly two decades.
Gaining Global Experience
Eager to expand his skills and knowledge, Dan ventured overseas. He worked in one of England's top award-winning butcheries, Randels, where he learned about service excellence. After two years at Randels, Dan moved to Melbourne to work at King Island Meats, an Italian-run butchery, café, and wine cellar. These experiences enriched his expertise and honed his craft.
Returning Home
In 2012, Dan and his wife Ange returned to Mangawhai and bought the butchery from Dan's parents. Since then, Dan has focused on elevating the quality and flavour of their products. Dan's passion for quality cuts, food, and flavors goes beyond a hobby; it is more like an obsession. He spends his days off tinkering in the kitchen, working on new flavour combinations. He picks kaffir lime leaves from his garden for lemongrass sausages and roasts fennel seeds for pork and fennel sausages, fine-tuning every little detail.
Award-Winning Excellence
Dan's dedication to his craft has earned Mangawhai Meat Shop numerous accolades. He represents New Zealand in the Sharp Blacks at the World Butchers Challenge and has won the Upper North Island Regional Butcher and Upper North Island Regional Young Butcher awards, among many others. Over the past decade, our sausages have won 15 awards, including 5 awards last year alone.
Representing New Zealand
In addition to his personal achievements, Dan has been selected to represent New Zealand as part of the Hellers Sharp Blacks NZ Butcher Team since 2022. Competing at the prestigious World Butchers’ Challenge, the Sharp Blacks secured bronze in 2022 in Sacramento. Dan and his teammates have been chosen not only for their outstanding butchery skills but also for their ability to work cohesively under the immense pressure of international competition. They will represent New Zealand again in Paris in March 2025, where they will compete against the world's best butchers.
Dan's Awards & Accolades
2012: Smoked Kransky - Silver
2014: Toulouse Sausage - Gold
2015: Spicy Italian - Bronze
2016: Chicken Lime & Lemongrass - Gold & Supreme Overall Winner
2017: Pork & Fennel - Bronze
2019: Beef Bean Mad Mex - Gold
2020: Thai Pumpkin & Cashew Nut - Bronze
2020: Beef Cheese & Jalapeno - Bronze
2020: Boerewors - Bronze
2022: Pork - Silver
2022: Thai Pumpkin & Cashew Nut - Silver
2022: Dry Cured Streaky Bacon - Gold
2023: Thai Pumpkin & Cashew Nut - Gold Elite
2023: Spanish Chicken - Bronze
2023: Pork & Fennel - Bronze
2023: Sweet Sticky Meatballs - Bronze
2023: 1/4 Pound Beef Brisket Burger Patties - Bronze
2016: Upper North Island Regional Young Butcher - Winner
2016: Young Butcher of the Year Finals - Runner-Up
2017: Alto Butcher of the Year - Runner-Up
2019: Upper North Island Regional Butcher - Winner
2022: Hellers Sharp Blacks Team Member (NZ Butcher Team)
2022: World Butchers Challenge - Sharp Blacks 3rd Place in the World
2024: Hellers Sharp Blacks Team Member (NZ Butcher Team)
2025: Competing in the World Butchers Challenge - Paris
Our Awards
Our Ethos and Philosophy
To passionately and consistently provide our community with the highest quality meats, expertly sourced and prepared with dedication to excellence, ensuring every customer enjoys superior flavor and satisfaction with every purchase.
Our Mission
Our Values
Family First We are a family-run business and consider our team members as part of our extended family. We believe in creating a supportive and close-knit work environment where everyone is valued and respected.
Fun and Laughter We believe a happy team leads to happy customers. Our workplace is filled with banter, laughter, and jokes, ensuring that our long hours are enjoyable. A positive and cheerful atmosphere is at the heart of our daily operations.
Creativity and Innovation Innovation is essential for our growth and keeps our passion alive. We constantly experiment with new products and explore fresh ideas, ensuring that we always offer something exciting and unique to our customers.
People-Centered People are the core of our business. We are dedicated to treating our customers with the utmost respect and making them feel special. Building strong relationships and providing exceptional service is our priority.
Loyalty and Integrity Trust and responsibility are fundamental in our small team. We have high expectations for ourselves and our staff, leading by example and fostering a culture of honesty and loyalty. We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in everything we do.
Friendly and Caring Our team is expected to be friendly and caring towards each other and our customers. We strive to be considerate and compassionate, ensuring that everyone who interacts with us feels welcomed and valued.
Bon appetit. Kia mākona. Have a nice meal!
© 2024 Mangawhai Meat Shop
Discover the exceptional quality of Dan’s award-winning meats, perfected by a master butcher renowned for his craft. As a member of the prestigious New Zealand Sharp Blacks and part of a rich family tradition, we bring you top-tier cuts with a personal touch.
Mangawhai Meat Shop
43 Moir Street, Mangawhai Village
Open Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm Saturday: 8:30 am - 2pm
Phone 09 431 4564