The Madam Woo restaurant chain, founded by celebrity chef Josh Emett and restaurateur Fleur Caulton, has been put into voluntary administration as part of hospitality group Go To Collection.

Malcolm Hollis and John Fisk of PwC have been appointed administrators by the company's directors on Thursday, PwC says in a statement.

The hospitality group operates the Rata, Madam Woo and Hawker & Roll restaurants in Queenstown, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga and employs more than 100 staff.

Malcolm says the administrators are working closely with the company's directors, shareholders and management to see if the business could be restructured and saved.

'The company has experienced a difficult period due to the impact of Covid-19, especially the extreme shortage of staff.

'We will work with the team to devise and implement a restructuring plan to ensure the components of the business that are operating well can have a successful future.”

The best performing restaurants will continue to provide high quality services while the less popular sites would be closed, says Malcolm.

Nearly all the existing staff will be retained, he says.

Business partners Josh Emett and Fleur Caulton pictured outside Queenstown's Rata restaurant. Photo: Stuff.

The group closed its Christchurch Madam Woo restaurant in May 2020, with the loss of eight jobs. At the time, Fleur says the restaurant's existing challenges has been made worse by Covid-19.

Companies Office records show Go To Collection is 66.67 per cent owned by Josh and Fleur's company Mayfare. Other shareholders include the Edgar family company SIL Long Term Holdings, and Sir Stephen Tindall's K One W One, each with 8.33 p[er cent.

The company's directors are Fleur, Andrew Glenn, and Emma Hill. Josh stood down as a director in June 2020.

PwC intents to put a proposal to creditors at a meeting before Christmas.

Creditors will be contacted in due course, says Malcolm.

-Tina Morrison/Stuff.