One key is for a very special stay, two keys are for an exceptional stay and three keys are for an extraordinary stay.
The Stables Suites at The Clements Hotel, Cambridge.
The Michelin team named The Clements and Taupō’s Huka Lodge as the only two Waikato standouts among 28 New Zealand hotels.
The Huka Lodge retained its two-key status from 2025.
It’s the second year that New Zealand hotels have been listed in the Michelin Keys global review, a new set of ratings from the Michelin company that is famous for the restaurant guide.
1866
The Clements Hotel sits in the heart of Cambridge at 68 Duke St.
It opened its doors in August 2025, after a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the 1866 Beaux-Arts Masonic hotel.
It retained many original architectural features, such as stained glass windows and a wooden staircase.
The boutique hotel features a restaurant, cafe, wine bar, meeting and event spaces and offers 29 rooms, including two accessible rooms featuring modified bathrooms with handrails, a lower toilet and roll-in friendly features.
The former horse stables were transformed into three private suites, while the original 150-year-old basement has been reimagined as 1866, an underground speakeasy bar inspired by Chicago’s Prohibition-era haunts.
Waipā Mayor Mike Pettit told the Waikato Herald that receiving a Michelin Key is an “outstanding milestone”.
He congratulated owners Gerry Westenberg and Jo Pannell on behalf of the Waipā District.
The basement speakeasy bar 1866 at The Clements Hotel in Cambridge is based on Chicago’s Prohibition-era haunts.
“To receive international recognition so soon after opening speaks to the quality of the experience being offered in Cambridge,” Pettit said.
“This kind of recognition helps showcase Waikato to both domestic and international visitors.”
He said Cambridge has long been known for its heritage, its equine industry and a strong sense of community, with this international recognition further elevating the town’s profile.
Pettit believes the Michelin win shows Cambridge continuing to grow its reputation as “one of New Zealand’s premier visitor destinations”.
“It exemplifies our slogan ‘Waipā Home of Champions’.”
Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell said the organisation knew “The Clements was something special”.
“We’ve been proud … throughout its development; watching an important historic building transformed into a sophisticated luxury hotel,” Greenwell said.
She said The Clements complements “premier” tourist activities in the area, such as Hobbiton and Hamilton Gardens.
“A Michelin Key puts another international spotlight on Cambridge, benefiting not only the hotel but the town’s wider hospitality, retail and visitor sector.”
Huka Lodge in Taupō. Photo / George Apostolidis
Two 2026 Michelin wins
Capstone Hotel Management manages The Clements Hotel under agreements with the Marsden Group.
It has also received a Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award and a 5-Star Boutique rating on its first evaluation.
The Marsden Group is celebrating two big wins, as its Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island was promoted from one Michelin Key to two this year.
Marsden Group’s chief operating officer Clare Davies said The Clements receiving a Michelin Key in “such quick succession” to its opening is thrilling.
Davies believes The Clements has already made a “positive” impact on regional tourism and the Michelin Key places Cambridge and Waikato on the map for luxury and boutique travellers both nationally and internationally.
A view from a pool at the Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island.
“Michelin’s standards are exceptionally high,” Davies said, with one key resembling a special stay at a unique, character-filled property with high-quality service and an authentic local feel.
“Their assessors are looking at every detail of the guest experience,” she said.
“To be recognised so early in our journey was a wonderful surprise.”
Davies said the recognition belongs to their teams on site who “deeply” care about their guests and properties.
“Delamore and The Clements show what is possible when a management approach is built around each property’s individual strengths and we are proud of the teams and owners behind them.”
While there are no three-key hotels in New Zealand, there are 10 two-key hotels – seven retained their two-key status from last year, while three were newly crowned two-key hotels.
There are now 18 one-key hotels in New Zealand: 10 hotels retained their one-key status from last year and eight new hotels were recognised for the first time.
New Zealand’s 10 two-key hotels compare strongly with Australia, which had nine hotels score a two-key status and three achieve three keys.
Globally, 155 hotels achieved a three-key status.
Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.