Henry Onesemo named Chef of the Year 2026

A huge congratulations to Henry Onesemo of Tala, who has been named Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chef of the Year 2026 by the Cuisine Good Food Awards.

For Henry, his wife and co-owner Debby, and the Tala team, this caps off an extraordinary year: a MICHELIN Star, Three Hats, and now one of New Zealand hospitality’s most respected individual honours.

But the real achievement is not just the trophy cabinet. It is what Henry has built. At Tala, Samoan food is not treated as a theme, a trend or a side note. It is the main event. It is fire, family, memory, ceremony, flavour and pride, presented with the precision and confidence of a chef who knows exactly what he wants to say.

According to Cuisine, Henry has redefined what Samoan cuisine can be, creating the world’s only fine-dining Samoan restaurant and helping place Pacific cuisine on the global culinary stage.

PMN / Pacific Media Network also reported Henry’s Chef of the Year win, noting Tala’s continued momentum and its place in a remarkable run of recognition for the restaurant.

Scoop’s coverage of the 2026 Cuisine Good Food Awards confirmed Henry Onesemo of Tala, Auckland, as Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chef of the Year 2026, alongside the full list of restaurants, chefs and hospitality talent recognised at this year’s awards.

Cuisine Magazine editor Kelli Brett also discussed the strength of the 2026 awards on Newstalk ZB / iHeart, with the interview also available via Apple Podcasts.

Tala is not just a restaurant. It is a statement of culture, confidence and connection.

For Pacific cuisine, this award carries real meaning. It gives visibility to food stories that have always been rich, layered and deeply connected to people, but have not always been given the same space within traditional fine dining conversations.

A Chef of the Year award is not only about one person standing in the spotlight. It also reflects the team behind the service, the standards set every day, the pressure of consistency, and the creativity required to keep moving forward.

And for Collaborate, it is a proud moment to stand behind a client whose talent, creativity and work ethic continue to open doors, shift perceptions and inspire what is possible.

Congratulations Henry, Debby and the Tala team. This is a deeply deserved and very special achievement.

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