Dutch-style cheeses have taken the top two awards at the 2012 Cuisine New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.
Meyer Vintage Gouda has won the champion of champions award for large cheesemakers, and Very Old Edam from Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese has taken the artisan award for smaller producers.
More than 400 cheeses were entered in the 19 categories of this year's competition, which received a record 430 entries from 36 companies.
Organiser Vikki Lee Goode says there was a rise in haloumi and washed rind cheese entries, and she says an increase in buffalo cheese entries is surprising, given there are only two herds in the country.
She says cheese made at home by hobbyists is also a growing trend, with a record 17 entries received in the Homecrafted Cheese category.
The competition is now into its ninth year.
