Prices as of 18 Jul 2026 · Updated weekly (supermarkets nightly)
PAK'nSAVE is usually the cheapest supermarket for meat, but it's not always cheaper than the butcher. Mad Butcher weekly specials regularly beat all three supermarkets on chicken — drumsticks at $4.99/kg when the supermarket price is $9–$13/kg is not unusual. Below is what the numbers actually say this week.
This week's meat prices, per kg
All prices are per kilogram. Supermarket prices are from public shelf prices and include current promotions. Mad Butcher prices are weekly specials from 1 store(s) scraped 18 Jul 2026. ★ marks the cheapest source for each cut where data is available. 🔖 = currently on special.
| Cut | PAK'nSAVE | New World | Woolworths | Mad Butcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Beef MincePrime Beef Mince | $20.69/kg | $26.99/kg | $16.90/kg | $19.99/kg |
| Chicken Drumsticks | — | — | — | $4.99/kg |
| Chicken Thighs (boneless)Chicken Thighs | $10.99/kg | $12.79/kg | $12.70/kg | $13.99/kg |
| Chicken Thighs (bone-in) | — | — | — | $9.99/kg |
| Chicken Breast (boneless) | — | — | — | $18.99/kg |
| Beef Rump SteakBeef Rump Steak | $34.49/kg | $36.99/kg | $35.99/kg | $33.99/kg |
| Lamb Shoulder ChopsLamb Shoulder Chops | $19.49/kg | $24.99/kg | $20.99/kg | $25.99/kg |
| Pork Loin Chops | — | — | — | $9.99/kg |
| Bacon (streaky) | — | — | — | $25.90/kg |
| Saveloys / Frankfurters | — | — | — | $10.00/kg |
Supermarket prices are North Island averages from public shelf prices. Mad Butcher prices are from Takanini. Prices may vary by store. — = not available in this data set.
Is the Mad Butcher actually cheaper?
The short answer: sometimes, and it depends heavily on the week. Mad Butcher operates on a weekly special cycle — typically 8–12 cuts on deep discount each week, rotating through the year. Outside of those specials, their everyday pricing is broadly similar to PAK'nSAVE on most cuts.
Where Mad Butcher wins
- Chicken drumsticks on special — $4.99/kg is a common Mad Butcher special price. PAK'nSAVE's everyday price is typically $7–$10/kg, and Woolworths $9–$13/kg. This is the single biggest value gap in NZ meat retail.
- Chicken thighs on special — Bone-in thighs at $9.99/kg or less vs $11–$13/kg at supermarkets. Mad Butcher's boneless thigh fillets (on special) often come in $4–6/kg below Woolworths.
- Bulk pork packs — Shoulder roasts and leg roasts on special regularly come in at half the everyday supermarket price. Good for meal prep or slow cooker meals.
- Weekly chicken specials broadly — If chicken is the special that week, it's almost always cheaper at Mad Butcher than any supermarket on the same day.
Where the supermarkets win
- Prime mince everyday — PAK'nSAVE's everyday prime mince is typically $18–$21/kg. Mad Butcher's everyday mince is in the same range, but supermarket club deals (especially Woolworths Club) can bring packaged mince below $17/kg.
- Boneless chicken breast — Supermarket house-brand or club pricing on chicken breast frequently beats butcher prices. Woolworths Club pricing on 1kg breast packs is often $12–$16/kg; Mad Butcher boneless breast is typically $17–$22/kg.
- Sausages and processed items — Hellers brand sausages, saveloys and frankfurters are stocked at both chains. Supermarket pricing on these is often sharper, especially on multipack deals.
- When nothing is on special at the butcher — If chicken or pork isn't the special that week, the value case for going to Mad Butcher weakens considerably. Check the specials before you drive.
How we compare fairly
Supermarket prices (PAK'nSAVE, New World, Woolworths) are read nightly from each chain's public website — the same prices you'd see on the shelf. We match equivalent cuts by description and normalise everything to $/kg. No login, no account, no price scraping beyond public shelf data.
Mad Butcher prices are read weekly (Sunday nights) from Mad Butcher's public WooCommerce product listings via a NZ mobile connection, using the same prices shown on their website. We read only public factual pricing — no login, no order data, no personal information. Only the weekly specials page and in-store product listings are read.
Prices are what you'd pay at the till, promotions included. Supermarket "Club" prices are included where applicable. A ★ marks the cheapest source where data is available across all four chains. Not all cuts are available at all four stores.
Full methodology: how we compare NZ supermarket prices fairly.
Frequently asked questions
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Is the Mad Butcher cheaper than PAK'nSAVE?
It depends on the cut and the week. On weekly specials, Mad Butcher regularly undercuts all three supermarkets on chicken drumsticks and bone-in thighs. On everyday pricing, PAK'nSAVE is typically the cheapest supermarket for prime mince, while Mad Butcher's everyday prices for boneless cuts are similar to or slightly above PAK'nSAVE. The real difference shows up on specials weeks.
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Which supermarket has the cheapest chicken in NZ?
PAK'nSAVE usually has the lowest everyday price on chicken thighs and drumsticks among supermarkets. Woolworths Club pricing is competitive on boneless chicken breast packs. Mad Butcher specials can beat both when chicken is the weekly special — drumsticks at $4.99/kg is a common price that no supermarket matches.
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What is the cheapest mince in NZ right now?
Prime beef mince (80/20) prices vary. PAK'nSAVE is typically the cheapest supermarket on premium mince. Woolworths is sometimes cheaper on their own-brand mince with Club pricing. The prices in the table above are updated weekly and reflect the current live prices at time of publication.
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How often are these meat prices updated?
Supermarket prices (PAK'nSAVE, New World, Woolworths) are updated nightly from public shelf prices. Mad Butcher specials are updated weekly on Sundays, reflecting the Mad Butcher weekly special cycle. Prices shown are what you would pay at the till, including any current promotions.
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Is it worth driving to the butcher to save money on meat?
Only if the saving covers the drive. Our main tool calculates the all-in cost of a grocery trip including petrol and your time — the same logic applies to a butcher run. If Mad Butcher is 5 km away and you save $8 on a kilo of chicken, a $0.40/km car costs $4 for the return trip, leaving $4 of real saving. Bigger shops tip the balance further.
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An Iterate product. Prices are from public shelf data and are provided for informational purposes only. Always verify prices in-store before making a purchasing decision.