For the first time in its 125-year history, it will include restaurants from Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in an inaugural New Zealand edition, to be released next year.
Vaughan Mabee, executive chef at celebrated Lake Hayes fine-dining restaurant Amisfield - named in the top 100 restaurants in the world this year and third-best international restaurant in the world in Food & Wine magazine’s Global Tastemakers Awards - welcomes its arrival.
"It will create an amazing new tourism and also showcase the amazing products the chefs use across the country that are from the pure waters and lands of Aotearoa."
James Stapley, chef-owner at Wānaka's award-winning Kika, says the arrival of the guide was "fantastic news" for New Zealand cuisine.
"There’s plenty of restaurants that deserve to be on the map."
He understood the Michelin judges had already visited New Zealand restaurants.
"That’s not stressful at all."
Tourism Minister Louise Upston said yesterday the new guide was estimated to bring up to 36,000 more international visitors to the country.
The move was supported by a $6.3 million contribution from the International Visitor Levy and Tourism New Zealand baseline funding.
She said anonymous Michelin diners were already in New Zealand tasting and rating some of the country’s best restaurants.
"This is an incredible moment for our sector, and one that will inspire many operators to continue lifting the bar for hospitality in New Zealand," chief executive Marisa Bidois said.
- RNZ, additional reporting Allied Media
