Meat pie (Australia and New Zealand)

Meat pie (Australia and New Zealand)

A typical meat pie with tomato sauce
Type	Meat pie
Place of origin	Australia and New Zealand
Main ingredients	Diced or minced meat, gravy

An Australian or New Zealand meat pie is a hand-sized meat pie containing largely diced or minced meat and gravy, sometimes with onion, mushrooms, or cheese and often consumed as a takeaway food snack. The pie itself is similar to the United Kingdom's steak pie.

The meat pie is considered iconic in Australia and New Zealand. It was described by former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr in 2003 as Australia's "national dish". New Zealanders regard the meat pie as a part of New Zealand cuisine, and it forms part of the New Zealand national identity.

The popular brand Four'N'Twenty produces 50,000 pies per hour and Australians consume an average of 12 meat pies each per year. The average consumption of meat pies in New Zealand is 15 per person per year. The meat pie is heavily associated with Australian rules football and Rugby League as one of the most popular consumed food items whilst watching a game.

Manufacturers of pies in Australia tend to be state-based, reflecting the long distances involved with interstate transport and lack of refrigeration capabilities in the early years of pie production. Many pies sold ready-to-eat at smaller outlets are sold unbranded and may be locally produced, produced by a brand-name vendor, or even imported, frozen pies heated prior to serving.

An Australian meat pie was produced in 1947 by L. T. McClure in a small bakery in Bendigo and became the famous Four'N'Twenty branded pie. Due to its relationship with Australian rules football, Four'N'Twenty has iconic status in Victoria and high popularity outside the state. Other manufacturers predate this, and the pie manufacturer Sargent can trace their pie making back to 1891.