The new Kiwi boss of McDonald's in this country has revealed the burger giant is actively investigating whether it is feasible for Georgie Pie to make a comeback.

Just don't expect the days of the cult classic $1 pie though.

Patrick Wilson, the first New Zealander to run McDonald's in this country in 21 years, started flipping burgers and serving fries at the age of 18.

Georgie Pie first opened in 1977, the brainchild of Tom Ah Chee – who also opened New Zealand's first supermarket in Otahuhu in 1958. It grew rapidly and 1300 people lost their jobs when more than 30 outlets were closed in 1996.

McDonald's bought Georgie Pie the same year.

Criticism that the company has been sitting on its hands doing nothing was wrong, Mr Wilson said.

"That old chestnut of Georgie Pie is an interesting one. It is a bit 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. We've gone out and done quite a bit of work on this, contrary to popular belief."

People remembered pies costing $1 or $2, but that would not be possible today, he said.

"We are going to continue to work on it, we are by no means saying we are giving up on Georgie Pie at all, but it's going to take a lot smarter thinking because if we bring back the original formula, people are still going to remember what they think a Georgie Pie will taste like."