It's been the most talked about fast food in the country and yesterday thousands turned up to get a taste.
The food in question was KFC's Double Down, a burger without the bread, featuring two chicken fillets seasoned with "the Colonel's secret herbs and spices", with two slices of bacon and
two slices of cheese stuffed in between, all topped off with a special sauce.
When the 93 KFC stores around the country opened yesterday, some had customers waiting, and in the first three hours they sold 16,000 of the bun-less burger.
In Wanganui, business in the Victoria Ave KFC was quick-fire, with a spokesman saying the Double Down was "flying out". When the Chronicle called about midday, the queue was backed up to the doors and the drive-through was frantic.
The double-decker chicken fillet burger will be on the menu for only five weeks but Jo Bell, a company spokeswoman in Auckland, said that was not unusual.
"It was on the menu for a limited time in other countries but it has certainly been the most successful and anticipated burger we've produced," Ms Bell said.
When it was launched in the United States, 10 million were sold in the first four weeks.
Shona Jones and Sacha Laugesen grabbed a taste of the Double Down in Wanganui but Ms Jones said they chose the "healthy option" which meant having the chicken grilled rather than deep fried.
"We saw the stories about the burger on the telly so thought we'd give it a try."
Ms Jones is Sacha's caregiver and said it was important they watched what she was eating.
Her verdict?: "It's very nice and the grilled option didn't taste fatty at all," Ms Jones aid.
Aaron Maxwell, from Stratford, is a lineman for Transpower, and he made the Double Down his lunch option yesterday.
Mr Maxwell said he had read about the new burger so he and his workmate were giving it a try.
"I'd probably buy another one," Mr Maxwell said.
Brent Kitto, KFC general manager, said the new burger was not for everyone but contrary to speculation, the Double Down was lower in calories and fat than a number of other burgers on the market.
But the arrival of the Colonel's latest fast food has not been a hit with everyone.
A US-based physicians group is asking KFC to not advertise its high-fat Double Down burger to children in New Zealand.
In a letter to the chairman of Yum! Restaurants International, the company that owns KFC, the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine cites high childhood obesity rates in New Zealand, and says the bun-less burger, with 32 grams of fat and nearly 1400mg of sodium, has a "death wish" appeal.
Susan Levin, director of nutrition education for the organisation, called the chicken sandwich a "troubling symbol of corporate irresponsibility" at a time when New Zealand was grappling with rising childhood obesity numbers.
Dr Levin said one Double Down had about half the calories and more than half the maximum amount of fat that most adults should consume in an entire day, as well as more sodium than the American Heart Association recommends consuming in an entire day.
How it compares
Double Down Sandwich: (Original): 540 calories, 32g fat, 1380mg sodium (grilled): 460 calories, 23g fat, 1430mg sodium
McDonald's Big Mac: 26g fat, 1080mg sodium
McDonald's The Boss: 44.4g fat, 1120mg sodium
Burger King Double Whopper: 54g fat, 1088mg sodium
Burger King Hawaiian BK Chicken: 48g fat, 1805mg sodium