Masterton barista Kelli Morgan will join battle as a finalist in the national McCafe Barista Competition after capturing the lower North Island regional crown.
Ms Morgan started working at the McDonald's Family Restaurant in the town about seven years ago and started working in the McCafe about five years ago when the coffee and counter food concept first launched at the Masterton branch.
She had last year spectated at the regional competition "to get ideas about what it was like" and was confident enough to enter the contest last week in Wellington, beating rivals from 20 other lower North Island branches of the multi-national franchise.
Ms Morgan won a trophy, certificate and cash prize as regional champion and also qualified to compete - flights and accommodation paid - as one of six finalists at the national showdown of the McCafe Barista Competition in Auckland next month.
Sachin Kaintura, McDonald's Family Restaurant Masterton general manager, said he was proud of Ms Morgan's achievement against such a broad field of competitors and was confident she will succeed at the national finals as well.
