Palmerston North's 'naked pie man' unhappy

ROBERT KITCHIN/Manawatu Standard

PIE MAN: Leighton Haar, owner of the Central Pie and Smoke Shop on Fitzherbert Ave.

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The naked pie man – whose shop in Palmerston North is the only one to score a D in the latest food gradings – is refusing to display his unflattering certificate.

Leighton Haar, owner of the Central Pie and Smoke Shop on Fitzherbert Ave, said he had been tripped up by unnecessary paperwork and there was nothing wrong with his pies.

"Our pies are healthy. I've lived on them for seven and a half years."

He said he completed a food-handling course, but couldn't find the certificate. "I've been penalised because I can't produce a piece of paper."

The often bare-chested Mr Haar scored a B last year.

The name-and-shame system was introduced by the Palmerston North City Council in 2005 – 49 businesses scored Ds that year. City council environmental protection services head Wayne Jameson said a D meant a store was "below par, but not bad enough to close".

"We worked with those rated a D last time. They were well aware that the D was costing them money."

Mr Jameson said the council also negotiated the temporary closure of three premises in the past year. He declined to name the businesses, but said they were now graded B.

Displaying gradings had led to an improvement in standards, partly because of public pressure, he said.

Mr Jameson said people who worked in the food industry should have a food-handler's certificate.

Mr Haar, 57, said he had 30 years of food-handling experience and the D would be damaging to his business.

He started the Pie and Smoke Shop in 2000, after Shell shut his Fitzherbert Ave service station.

The shop sold up to 300 pies a night, he said, as well as drinks, tobacco and party pills.

"This place is famous world-wide," he said. "People come to Palmerston [North] to meet the naked pie man. A lot of people want me to stand for mayor."

Mr Haar said he lost his house about five years ago because roadworks by the city council on Fitzherbert Ave affected his business.

Mr Jameson said the city was also trialling an auditing process, ahead of an anticipated law change on food regulations.

The food-grading system had led to positive change in the industry, he said.

To check outlet food gradings, visit the pncc.govt.nz website.

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