India, Nov. 7 -- The Michelin Guide is expanding to Aotearoa, New Zealand, marking its first-ever entry into Oceania. Set to launch in mid-2026, the inaugural edition will include Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown, with inspectors already dining anonymously across the country.

"New Zealand offers a rich and diverse culinary landscape shaped by its heritage, Pacific influences, and a new generation of chefs who champion local produce with creativity and passion," said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, in an exclusive interview with Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau.

New Zealand has been on Michelin's radar for a long time Michelin Guide heads to New Zealand | Image Credi...