James Biggs and Ben Henry, who both work at Centre City New World, recently won the Alto young butcher and Competenz butcher apprentice categories respectively.
Entrants had two hours to display their practical skills in a competitive cutting test, in which they were had to turn a beef rump, pork loin and chicken into a range of value added cuts.
They also sat a written examination and were interviewed to test their communication skills and knowledge of the trade.
Mr Biggs, who plays the drums in a punk rock band in his spare time, said the creative element of butchery had drawn him to a career in the meat industry.
He won the regional competition in 2011 and this year was his first year back in the competition after a few years off.
He started in the supermarket's butchery while he was at secondary school, to earn some money. After attending university for a year, he decided butchery was more his ''calling''.
Mr Henry described himself as a practical, hands on person, who also had a real love for food, so butchery ticked ''all the boxes'' for him, he said.
It was his second consecutive regional win in the apprentice competition, and he is only in the second year of his apprenticeship.
He has worked at Centre City New World for the past six years, initially part time as an after school job, and he took on more hours when he reached university.
When an apprenticeship opportunity arose, he decided butchery was more his thing than a chemistry degree.
The pair, who are both in their 20s, will compete against finalists from four other regions in the grand final in Auckland on September 10.
