The Chefs Association is a national association representing professional chefs, cooks and trainees in New Zealand.

The association is made up of 8 branches around NZ. This network allow chefs to help fellow chefs both nationally and internationally.

The branches hold regular meetings and are active within their regions and nationally. Members consist of people with a passion for food and represent a wide range of professions associated with this industry.

The New Zealand Chefs Association was founded in 1957 by two Auckland chefs; Sid Young and Jim Allan who saw the need to meet with their colleagues. The association was set up to encourage and foster interest in the culinary arts and sciences and promote and advance the interests of chefs, cooks, patissiers and confectioners to protect and develop a high standard of performance in their professions. The association assists in the promotion of lectures, cooking competitions and catering exhibitions both locally and internationally in the art of cookery and prepared food.

This group was to become the voice of professional chefs in New Zealand and represents New Zealand at a larger chefs community known as WACS (World Association of Chefs Societies). We have been active in ensuring representation throughout the world and ensuring attendance at the World Bi-annual congress. The association was very proud to have hosted the 2006 World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in Auckland in 2006.

WACS, is a global network of chefs associations founded in Oct 1928. From small beginnings it now has got a membership of 92 Countuies official chefs associations worldwide. An elected presidential body consisting of the WACS president, vice president, treasurer, secretary general and ambassador honorary president manages WACS. Currently the Icelandic Chefs Association holds the presidium and Chef Gissur Gudmundsson is the World President.

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