Amisfield owner regretful, ‘misjudged’ star chef

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

The owner of award-winning restaurant Amisfield says he “misjudged” Vaughan Mabee’s leadership abilities and “deeply regrets” that any staff felt unable to speak up sooner about the former chef’s behaviour.

Mabee, a celebrated chef who led Arrowtown restaurant Amisfield’s kitchen since 2012 and hosted television cooking shows, quit as executive chef in February after allegations of an assault. He had already been warned following two historic complaints about his conduct.

Mabee has since “unreservedly apologised” for his behaviour, and said he was stepping down to “focus on my personal health issues and being a present and loving father to my family”.

On Wednesday, restaurant owner John Darby issued a statement acknowledging his regret. “I deeply regret that any staff felt unable to speak up sooner. I do not condone Vaughan's behaviour and the culture he created. I hear those who have come forward and regret that our support was not more responsive in the past.”

He said Mabee was a long-time employee who he had supported onto the world stage, “but I misjudged his ability to lead our kitchen responsibly”.

“No amount of talent is an excuse for poor behaviour,” said Darby.

He reiterated that all formal employee complaints were fully investigated and formal disciplinary action taken. “Following a further complaint late last year, Vaughan was removed from the workplace and we accepted his resignation.”

Amisfield chief executive Simon Toneycliffe also released a statement, saying the business was committed to overhauling its culture.

“We are implementing a strengthened leadership structure across both the kitchen and front-of-house to ensure clearer accountability, better communication, and consistent standards of behaviour.

“Since stepping into this role, it became clear that meaningful change was required. While some of the workplace issues pre-dated my tenure, addressing them and ensuring we create the environment our people deserve is my responsibility.”

A reset

The restaurant will close for renovations from May 18 to July 7.

Toneycliffe said management would use that time to “reset, align, and prepare for the next chapter of Amisfield”.

Toneycliffe has been chief executive at Amisfield since April 2023.

Meanwhile, Cuisine magazine editor Kelli Brett also announced on Tuesday that the restaurant was no longer on its 2025 Good Food Guide and would not be considered for its 2026 edition, released in August.

Writing on the magazine’s website, Brett said the decision was “not [one] that we have made lightly”.

She cited reporting by The Press, Newsroom and other media outlets as exposing alleged behaviour far below acceptable standards of workplace behaviour.

“As a result we … cannot allow our audience to turn to our current guide and be advised that a restaurant where employees were disrespected and abused is, in our opinion, one of the country’s best.”

Amisfield’s closure for renovations meant the restaurant could not be assessed for the 2026 guide and would be revisited in 2027.

Brett wrote of her own “distress” at the revelations about Mabee. “Cuisine has proudly played a major role in showcasing Aotearoa to the world but that pride must now sit alongside the acknowledgement that, in championing this chef, we inadvertently gave reach and credibility to someone who presided over a culture of harm.”

TVNZ, which streamed A Taste of Art - featuring Mabee alongside former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong - on TVNZ+ earlier this year is still “assessing” if it will remove the show from the platform.

SBS Food in Australia was due to screen A Taste of Art on Thursday night. But in a statement issued on Thursday SBS said it would not broadcast the show “at this time … following allegations of misconduct concerning the program’s co-host Vaughan Mabee”.