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The legendary Hororāta pie
For decades, Horor?t? locals and visitors alike had been calling in to the Horor?t? Hotel for one of their famous pies - whether it be after a rugby match, a day on the ski fields, or out on the farm. When the Hotel was damaged in the 2010 earthquake and deemed uneconomical to repair, the pie recipe was among items put up for auction by the publican, with proceeds going to the township’s recovery efforts. Following a bidding war, the recipe was purchased by local residents Mark Stewart and Ainsley Walter for $4,400, and was later gifted to the Horor?t? Community Trust.?
Image: The Hororāta Hotel, 2 June 1973. Courtesy of Christchurch City Libraries and Starmedia.
Model cast from an original Horor?ta steak pie from the Cafe on the Green in Glentunnel. Photographed by Michelle Sim.
Having secured the precious recipe, Mark and Ainsley set about resurrecting the much-loved pies, whose origins hark back to piemaker and former Horor?t? Hotel publican, Mrs Ellen Hutton. They called on some 'local lads' to taste test the pies to determine which was closest to the original, which led to much spirited debate!?The legendary pie was relaunched in 2012 at the Horor?t? Highland Games, for the benefit of the Horor?t? Community Trust - and proved a sell-out success. Having been re-established, the pie was officially gifted to the Trust in 2017. Image: Horor?t? Highland Games ‘heavy athletes’ enjoying a legendary Horor?t? pie in 2019. Courtesy of the Horor?t? Community Trust.
Community pride
Today the pies are an integral part of the Horor?t? community’s regeneration strategy.?With the town and surrounding area having suffered the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes, the Horor?t? Community Trust was established in 2011 to provide the resources to promote and develop Horor?t? and its wider community.?Pie sales are one important way to support these efforts, with funds being reinvested in the community via the Trust. It’s not just about money, though. The Horor?t? pie is also a symbol of pride for locals, and a way of telling their story - past, present, and future.?? Image: Pies on offer at the Horor?t? Highland Games. Courtesy of the Horor?t? Community Trust.
Horor?t? Pie Eating Competition at the Highland Games. Courtesy of the Horor?t? Community Trust.
The annual Horor?t? Highland Games has become a highlight of the Selwyn District’s events calendar, with thousands of people flocking to the event from across Canterbury and beyond. Approximately 1,000 Horor?t? pies are sold every year at the Games, and the pie features prominently in the programme, with the legendary pie eating competition and 'Kilted Mile’. In the latter, competitors run a mile (1.6km) in a kilt, while consuming a Horor?t? pie, some shortbread, and a can of Irn Bru soft drink!
Horor?t? pies are available at all Horor?t? Community Trust events, including the Highland Games and Glow Festival. The pie is also sold locally at GAS Horor?t?, Glentunnel Store, and Café on the Green.
Be a legend, support local and ‘eat to donate’ to the Horor?t? Community Trust!