There is excitement and cautious optimism in Maketū after news one of the coastal Bay of Plenty village’s biggest employers has been saved from closing – again.

Maketū Pies is now in its third life, having been bought two weeks into a liquidation process.

A liquidator says there were “a number of interested parties” for the iconic Kiwi brand.

Catering business Montana Group took over the 42-year-old business and its staff of about 20 on Thursday.

Maketū Foods Ltd was placed into voluntary solvent liquidation by its previous owner, Te Arawa Management Ltd, at the end of November.

Te Arawa bought the company in a receivership process five years ago.

New buyer Montana Group employs about 1000 people and has 30 kitchens across Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato.

The company’s website described it as New Zealand’s largest privately-owned caterer, with brands catering to events, university halls of residents and schools.

Montana Group representatives met with the Maketū Pies team this week to make introductions and start the transition process.

In a statement, Montana Group chief operating officer Lizzi Pearson said they received the “warmest possible welcome” and could not wait to work with the team to “build on their successes and explore new opportunities”.

“Our immediate focus is on ensuring a seamless handover, looking after the existing team and maintaining the high standards that Maketū Pies is known for.”

Joint liquidators Thomas Rodewald and Paul Manning from BDO Tauranga traded the business while a buyer was sought.

Manning confirmed the sale to Local Democracy Reporting on Thursday.

“There were a number of interested parties.

Maketū Pies is an iconic Kiwi brand.

“Further details will be released by the purchaser early next week.”

The sale would be detailed in the next liquidators’ report in six months.

“The liquidators are now concentrating on establishing the liabilities and collecting outstanding debtor monies.”

Their first report said they expected all creditors would be paid in full within a year.

Maketū Health and Social Services chief executive Susan (Huhana) Smith said the organisation dropped off care packages to workers this week.

These included food and essential items ahead of Christmas.

Maketū Pies, as of December 5, has a new owner. Photo / Laura Smith

“We understand it’s been a very stressful time for them.”

Smith said she was cautiously optimistic about the future of the brand and those it employed.

“We’re very happy and hoping for the best.”

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said the town is special to many from Rotorua, including her family.

Maketū is where the Te Arawa waka landed.

Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell. Photo / Laura Smith

Tapsell said community and worker feedback was that they were happy to still have the 20 jobs in their hometown.

“It’s incredibly exciting news for the region and exciting Maketū Pies will still have a future under such a well-established company.”

The unofficial mayor of Maketū - as Shane Beech is known to some - was also excited by the news.

“It’s great for the community.”

Job security, particularly ahead of Christmas, was a good thing, he said.

Beech said it was pretty difficult to find other employment in the village, which had a population of 1311 in the 2023 Census.

He said his favourite pie from the iconic brand was a steak and mushroom.

The company website states it has 50 different product lines on offer.

Te Arawa Management Ltd bought the national pie supplier in 2019 during a receivership process.

The company, a subsidiary of the Rotorua-based Te Arawa Lakes Trust, previously said the pie business had operated at a loss since.

Interim chief executive Tina Kilmister-Blue said in November the “difficult decision” to put the business into liquidation was made after much deliberation.

The company was previously owned for about 36 years by couple Grant and Karen Wilson.