The executive chef of New Zealand's oldest licensed premises has been left fuming after having its famous medium-rare Governor's Burger pulled from its menu.

The Duke of Marlborough restaurant in the Bay of Islands received a visit from a Ministry for Primary Industries inspector ordering the famous burger be removed from the menu because its burger was served medium-rare.

According to new food preparation guidelines, meat and liver need to be cooked at high temperatures and for longer periods of time to avoid contamination.

The Duke's executive chef Daniel Frazer told Mike Hosking it wasn't worth changing the burger to make it fit the guidelines.

"We cooked it to their specifications with the inspector the other day. It was just crap to be honest and it's just not something I am happy to do. It is just easier to get rid of the burger."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DANIEL FRAZER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Chef Association president Graham Hawkes said chefs are already tied up in red tape and the guidelines are a step too far.

"Obviously [chefs] are devastated with it because they don't want to be told what they're allowed to put on the menu and how they're allowed to do it. That's their freedom of choice, surely." 

He said businesses are hurting and the decision needs to be reassessed.

"Around the country chefs are saying they've just got to remove some of their classic dishes. Our message to the Government is: Please review it and come up with a sensible solution."

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