About the Lumina Rising Stars Award

Young chefs from across the Wellington region with an eye on making hospitality their career are encouraged to apply for the Lumina Rising Stars programme in partnership with Visa Wellington On a Plate. 

2023’s Lumina Rising Stars have been announced this August with chefs Lizzie Rogers of Atlas, Courtenay Charles of 50-50, and Sian Davies of Olive named for the awards programme dedicated to Wellington-based chefs.

Now in its second year, the Lumina Rising Stars programme aims to nurture young chefs at the start of their career. It is run in partnership with Visa Wellington On a Plate, with industry support from Lumina, New Zealand’s premier lamb producer and exporter. 

Criteria for the Award

• Applicants must be aged 18-25 years, and working as a chef

• Chefs can self-nominate, or be nominated by their head chef/exec chef/employer

• Chef must be Wellington-based

• Venues can nominate multiple chefs

Selection process

• Alliance and Visa WOAP will select a shortlist of up to 10 applicants, and ask them to cook a dish with lamb, take photos of it, and send us a short description of their dish (video or written)

• Based on the written applications and information about the lamb dish provided, Alliance and Wellington Culinary Events Trust and Alliance will choose up to three Rising Stars Award winners

The prize

• Four tutorials and training throughout the year

• A farm tour of a Lumina Lamb farm

• $500 Prezzy card per Rising Star

• The nominating venue will receive Lumina lamb product

2023 Key dates and timeline

• Mon Jun 19 Award announced and applications open

• Mon July 3 Applications close 

• Wed July 5 Selection of shortlist 

• Mon 10 -Mon 24 July Shortlisted applicants to provide photos and description of lamb dish

• Tue 25 -Thur 27 July Judging and selection of winners

• 7 August Announcement of winners

This programme is supported by Lumina and Visa Wellington On a Plate.

The 2022 Rising Stars included Benny Forshaw from Charley Noble Eatery and Bar, Jacob Spackman from Kisa, Ben McKenzie from Ortega Fish Shack & Bar, Chinar Raut from Field & Green and Kritika Mahajan from Shepherd.

Applications are now closed for 2023