The wait for New Zealand’s Michelin moment is almost over
Friday, 26 June 2026
It is the holy grail of the culinary world and next week, New Zealand’s top chefs and restaurants will find out if they have achieved it.
The Michelin Guide will announce its first ever New Zealand restaurant selection in Auckland on Tuesday, choosing from restaurants in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
“We've got the best restaurants, cafes, bars for the price we offer…and hopefully Michelin is going to see that as well,” Auckland restaurateur Sid Sahrawat told The Post.
Getting a Michelin star would be the “holy grail” for chefs and owners, he said.
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The Michelin Guide ceremony will be attended by a range of chefs, owners and industry leaders from across New Zealand.
The Post understands that from the Wellington area, Logan Brown Restaurant and Bar executive chef Shaun Clouston, Boulcott Street Bistro’s managing partner Fergus Trengrove and head chef of 50-50 Helen Turnbull were asked to attend.
Clouston said the invite was “fantastic for our team”.
“We've been doing it for nearly 30 years now, so it's nice to be able to get that sort of little invitation to be part of all those awards,” he said.
Representatives from Auckland’s hospitality community include, Ahi’s chef Mike Shatura, Origine’s chef Gideon Landman, and two of Paris Butter’s chefs Zennon Wijlens and Nick Honeyman.
According to The Press representatives of several Christchurch restaurants will also be attending the ceremony, including Gatherings, Cellar Door, Inati, Odeon, Tussock Hill Vineyard and Miro.
Further south, as reported by Stuff, Queenstown has a number of fine dining restaurants possibly in the Michelin mix, including the Sherwood Bar and Restaurant and Toast & Oak.
An invitation to the event does not guarantee a Michelin star or an award from the Michelin Guide.
But if restaurants are rewarded the star accolade they will be in the company of world famous establishments such as Paris’ one-star La Tour d’Argent, New York’s three-star Le Bernardin and London’s Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which has three stars.
The Michelin Guide selection is a famously secretive process and occurred over an 18 month period when a number of anonymous ‘inspectors’ dined at restaurants across the country The inspections had happened before the Michelin Guide’s arrival was even announced.
The star system is not the only award up for grabs as restaurants can also receive the Bib Gourmand and the Selected distinction.
The Michelin Guide states that the Bib Gourmand is given to restaurants that serve “exceptional food at great value”, putting an emphasis on value for money.
Individuals can also receive awards“recognising exceptional talent and leadership” in the hospitality industry.
While the judging process remains mysterious, Clouston said he thinks it is based on the “longevity of what the restaurants do,” “the standard of how they operate” and “how they look after their team.'
Sahrawat, who will attend the Auckland event, said he thinks a Michelin star would bring in more tourists.
“A lot of people look at Michelin when they're planning their trips to go to destinations … people are not coming just for the view,” he said.
Tourism New Zealand invested $6.3 million to help bring the Michelin Guide to New Zealand, making it the first country in Oceania with a Michelin Guide
Data from Tourism New Zealand suggests that the guide will attract an estimated 36,000 more international visitors in 2026 and 2027.
The award ceremony will be livestreamed on the Michelin Guide YouTube channel on June 30 for local and international viewers.