Michelin-starred chef Josh Emett and restaurateur Mark Wallbank will be joining Al Brown on the new judging panel of TV show MasterChef New Zealand.

Wallbank's restaurants include Woodpecker Hill, The Blue Breeze Inn and Moo Chow Chow. He was recently named Metro's restaurateur of the year.

Wallbank celebrating Melbourne Cup day at Euro back in 2011. Photo: Olivia Hemus.

Wallbank told TV3 the show would be taking home-cooks "who are full of promise, pushing them, and finding out who has what it takes to be incredible".

Wallbank at the Ellerslie Races last year. Photo: David White/Fairfax NZ.

Emett, who was on the show's previous incarnation on TVNZ, said he was looking forward to working alongside Brown and Wallbank.

"I have always enjoyed the process of making the show, and find it a very positive experience – meeting people and eating lots of great food. We have a real step up in contestants this year, so I am very intrigued to see how they will develop and progress through the challenges to come."

Al Brown is on the panel this year. Photo: Lawrence Smith/Fairfax NZ.

The show will be screening on TV3 for the first time this year after being axed from TVNZ.

MasterChef is currently produced in over 40 countries around the globe, and airs in over 200.