Strewth. The Aussies are bringing their pies to New Zealand.

It will be the second big pie chain to set up in shop since the much-loved Georgie Pie closed its doors in 1999. Kiwi franchise Jesters pies opened in 2002, and has 17 stores in the North Island with stores pending in Wellington and the South Island.

Pie Face announced today it had entered into a memorandum of understanding with New Zealand partners to roll out at least 62 stores over the next 10 years across New Zealand.

The local partners, Julian Field and Jared Palmer, have a combined 17 years of fast food experience, Pie Face said in a media release.

Field has been a multi-unit owner with Subway New Zealand for the past 15 years in the South Island.

The New Zealand company has been granted an exclusive license to operate the Pie Face business on this side of the Tasman. It will initially establish a training store in Auckland, followed by a rollout in Auckland. The first store is expected to open by April 2013.

Product will be imported from Pie Face in Australia, but the New Zealand franchise will have the option to produce locally under license.

The local partners will pay an undisclosed up-front fee to Pie Face, and will pay a share of royalties, trading profits and marketing levies in perpetuity, the company said.

Wayne Homschek, co-founder and Pie Face CEO said he sees a bright future for the brand in the Kiwi market.

The move across the ditch is the first master license arrangement for Pie Face, which was founded in 2003 in Bondi, Sydney. It now operates 76 stores across Australia, mostly franchised.

Pie Face recently entered the United States market with a first store in Manhattan, New York with a seven further stores under development.

- This story has been corrected

- © Fairfax NZ News