Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s announcement that Michelin will publish a New Zealand guide has sparked sharp backlash from hospitality workers and the public, who say the move is tone-deaf amid widespread restaurant closures and economic strain.
Luxon announced the news at AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, saying the Michelin Guide would “showcase the best of our food, wine and hospitality to the world.” He said the move would attract more international visitors, create jobs, and help grow the economy. “New Zealand has great restaurants,” Luxon said. “Now the rest of the world will know too.”
We all know New Zealand has great restaurants, and soon, so will the rest of the world.
Michelin is coming and its New Zealand guide will showcase the best of our food, wine and hospitality to the world.
It means we’ll be welcoming more visitors from around the world who want… pic.twitter.com/ahGBjh9MNr
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) November 5, 2025
However, critics quickly took to social media to challenge his remarks. One user wrote, “Absolute bull****… nobody will come here just because a restaurant has a couple of Michelin stars.” Another added, “You live in a dreamworld — over 2,500 hospitality businesses have shut down in the last year alone… what planet are you on?”
Industry figures pointed out that many of Auckland’s best-known restaurants — including The Grove, Sidart, SPQR, Vivace, Monsoon Poon, Homeland, and Ponsonby Road Bistro — have recently closed, with several owners relocating to Australia due to rising costs.
According to recent data, an average of 307 hospitality businesses per month have closed so far in 2025 — up from 254 per month last year. Critics also highlighted the broader context of hardship, including stretched healthcare and education systems, high rents, and food prices that keep increasing.
“Luxon is spending millions on a luxury travel guide while thousands of Kiwis can’t afford housing or food,” one commenter said.
Supporters of the move say Michelin’s arrival will raise New Zealand’s international culinary profile.
The bald-headed minion is self-delusional…as noted in his delusional leadership which is suspected to have been coached behind the scenes by John Key and the WEF / WHO / NWO!
https://rumble.com/v6uj0oj-the-agenda-their-vision-your-future-2025-full-documentary-4k.html
And his cabonet also seems to suffer from the same condition…..
Hopefully at some in point in the very near future Luxon will permanently b*gger off.
A political landscape minus Luxon will obviously be a notable improvement.
Oh dear. Luxon is such a pathetic useless twat.
Hipkins is worse obviously.
Let the Good Times Roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki6xHnDAwHw&list=RDKi6xHnDAwHw&start_radio=1
The good times are gone
Ardern killed it
And the other Cheshire grinning cat who has got the sheer audacity and cheek to show his snout in public and profess what is wrong with the economy and what needs to be done to bring it right
While gorging and feeding swill at the taxpayer expense funded trough
Diabolical to say the least
These people have no shame convenient lapses of memory and in denial of the truth
All tarred with the same brush
A liability never an asset
On the wrong side of the ledger
Bad health
GF’d
Luxon to Hipkins in the House
“You caused it”
One thing Luxon was right about
Yep and they made it worse. Next election, I’d suggest you don’t vote for either.
I have only ever voted once
A bit like the Telmudvision
It went out the window
Luxtor’s social media posts are tone deaf
Just have to share this hilarious link
https://www.sott.net/article/502032-Donald-Trump-replaces-Joe-Biden-White-House-portrait-with-picture-of-autopen
A Michelin star is becoming like a Nobel prize then.
So its better to move your restaurant to Australia, another country, than keep it here in New Zealand…..WOW. What does that tell you about New Zealand? Everything seems to be moving off shore. Soon this place will be filled with unskilled or semi skilled immigrants, people with no affinity for the country, who in turn, will see the writing on the wall and leave. Wonder how long it will be before Australia closes it open borders policy with NZ, under public pressure? I suspect its only a matter of time.
OMG – Luxon, you a dreamer. I worked 51 years in the hospitality, national and their low wage policy will not do anything do achieve high standards.
Egg head failure. Mind you, was nearly impossible to fix the crap labour left in it’s disastrous wake. Poor NZ is operational at spastic level. Shame on our major parties. We are cannon fodder for them. Nothing else
Cafes and restaurants are closing but dont worry, we got Michelin Stars!!