Gordon Ramsay pulls out of NZ contract

Gordon Ramsay. Photo / Supplied

UK celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has cancelled his attendance at a New Zealand charity dinner for the second time this year.

Ramsay had arranged to come to New Zealand as part of a trip down under where he would be the main feature of two sold out private charity dinners in Auckland and Wellington next week.

But the fiery television personality cancelled a week before the event "due to matters beyond his control", despite having signed a contract confirming his attendance.

David Higgins, director of event organiser Duco, said his company had spent much of the year organising the dinners, at great cost and effort. The event was previously scheduled to be held in June, but a few days out Ramsay's agent said he could not attend because his mother had suffered a minor heart attack.

While Mr Higgins could sympathise with this situation, for Ramsay to pull out for a second time, with no explanation or apology, was unacceptable.

The dinners would have raised money for a New Zealand girl living in the United States who suffers from a intestinal disorder meaning she cannot eat and requires costly treatment.

Mr Higgins said his company was consulting lawyers and would be seeking remedies for substantial damages.

Gordon Ramsay's London agent, Kruger Cowne, could not be reached for comment.

- NZPA