Despite taking out the honour of MasterChef NZ, Tim Read says he isn't sure he will go on to open his own restaurant.
Read went head-to-head with Leo Fernandez in the show's finale last night, creating dish after dish for the judges.
Both contestants were put through their paces but in the end it came down to a complicated dessert, with Read showing he had what it takes, even though he wasn't so confident at the time he could pull it off.
"Honestly, I had to laugh, otherwise I was going to cry and walk out, so I just laughed," the physiotherapist told the Paul Henry programme this morning.
He says he never dreamed of winning the competition, and just took things step by step.
"It was all about just trying to get into the house, and then, I suppose, top six, I knew I was probably four good cooks away from making the final and that was always my aim. I knew I probably wasn't the best person in there but was going to give it my all and just hang in as long as I could."
Even after the judges' decision he says he's still not convinced he was necessarily the best in the kitchen.
"I don't know if I was the best cook, but I had the best competition," he says.
"I like to think I tried to organise myself as well as I could and I think mental strength as well. If you get knocked down, you've just got to stand back up. It doesn't matter what you did five minutes ago, it matters what you're doing right now."
For now, Read says he will see what opportunities his victory brings, though opening a restaurant is not likely to be on the cards.
"It's probably not my style; I'm more one to one.
"If I could take people hunting, fishing, diving and then cook and awesome meal out of what we get, that would be awesome."
Watch the video for the full interview with Tim Read.