End of an Era: Award-Winning Chef Vaughan Mabee Departs Amisfield After 15 Years

Award-winning executive chef Vaughan Mabee resigns from Amisfield Restaurant to pursue overseas opportunities. Head chef Sun Peng to take the helm.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

A Legacy of Accolades

Mabee’s departure comes at a high point for the restaurant. Under his leadership, Amisfield achieved several historic milestones:

World’s 50 Best: Ranked 99th on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 list in 2025.

Cuisine Good Food Awards: Named Restaurant of the Year (2025) with a near-perfect score of 19.5/20.

Top 100 Chefs: In 2023, Mabee was the only New Zealander named in the World's Top 100 Chefs.

Michelin Contender: Widely regarded as the frontrunner for a star in the upcoming inaugural New Zealand Michelin Guide.