From Earthquakes to Auckland – Celia Hay Awarded Auckland Supreme Woman of Influence 2026 – Cuisine’s Women in Food & Drink Awards 2026 was held at Soul Bar & Bistro in the Viaduct, Auckland on March 11 2026.
This growing national network of Women in Food & Drink provides a unique platform for women in food and beverage and hospitality-related businesses to engage and share their personal experiences and goals. It shines the light on many hard-working women who in the past would be unacknowledged.
Celia Hay, founding director of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine and the founding President of the New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals was awarded the top honour; Supreme Woman of Influence.
In 2011, Celia relocated the New Zealand School of Food and Wine (NZSFW) to the Viaduct, Auckland following the devastating Christchurch earthquakes and started again.
Today NZSFW is a leading culinary school of NZQA approved cookery qualifications.
Celia Hay
“I am so honoured to be awarded the Cuisine Women in Food & Drink’s Supreme Woman Award 2026 and to gain such professional recognition. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, as they say of privileged children. My father, Sir Hamish Hay was Mayor of Christchurch for 15 years. But there was no pot of gold and as children we knew that we would have work and pay our own way…”
“As a young woman and later as a mother, setting up my own business particularly in hospitality, wine, beverages, or tourism gave me choices and some flexibility to manage the juggle of life. I didn’t need to send my children to daycare because we had a spare room and cot at the School of Food and Wine, where they could play and sleep.”
“We do have opportunities that our mothers and grandmothers did not have and could barely dream of, and this alone is a reason to acknowledge this progress in our society and give thanks.”
About the Award
Women In Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand Awards 2026
This year we continue to celebrate the trailblazing women who have made significant impacts in our food-and-drink industry. On 9 March, the Women in Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand Awards 2026 honoured these inspiring individuals for their outstanding contributions to our national food-and-drink narrative.
Women in Food and Drink Awards 2026 – https://www.cuisine.co.nz/women-in-food-drink-aotearoa-new-zealand-awards-2026/
Celia’s speech at the Awards Lunch & a few photos too.
https://foodandwine.co.nz/about-us/news/celia-hay-women-of-influence-in-food-and-drinks/
About Celia – https://foodandwine.co.nz/about-us/celia-hay
About New Zealand School of Food and Wine
Founded by Celia Hay, the New Zealand School of Food and Wine opened its first campus in Christchurch in 1995. In 2012, a new campus was established in Auckland’s Viaduct when NZSFW relocated to Auckland following the Christchurch earthquakes. NZSFW offers fully-equipped modern demonstration and practical kitchens, dining room, cocktail bar, wine tasting and barista training rooms, seminar and reception area.
As specialists in culinary, wine & hospitality education, NZSFW has trained thousands of students. Many have gone on to enjoy success as respected chefs, food writers, food and wine educators, sommeliers and restaurant owners.
The New Zealand School of Food & Wine is registered and accredited with the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA). It holds NZQA Category One rating (2025).
https://foodandwine.co.nz
New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals
The New Zealand Sommeliers & Wine Professionals Association (NZSWP) is registered an incorporated society and is not for profit.
“Our organisation is a not for profit incorporated society and its primary goal is to create a community of people from around New Zealand working with wine, beverages, wine and beverage sales, marketing within the sectors of hospitality, wine, wine tourism, wine education, wine marketing and sales.”
https://www.sommelier.co.nz/about
