Peta Mathias MNZM is a respected and prolific New Zealand chef, author and broadcaster, who conducts gastronomic tours to such exotic places as France, Morocco, Spain, Vietnam, Italy and India. She lives in the South of France in the French summer, teaching cooking classes in her Uzè s home and lives in Auckland in the New Zealand summer, writing and avoiding winter In 2012 Peta was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit by the New Zealand Government