Kiwis give a visa to drug-linked TV chef Nigella Lawson #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @i_amreginaldjr

NIGELLA Lawson may have been barred from entering America after drug-taking revelations – but she has been given the green light to visit New Zealand.

Nigella Lawson admitted to using cannabis and cocaine in the past[GETTY]

The chef, 54, was prevented last month from flying to Los Angeles where she has previously filmed TV cooking show The Taste.

The ban was thought to be due to her admission in court last year that she had used cocaine and cannabis.

As Ms Lawson has been excluded from another country, namely the United States, she was ineligible to be granted a visa to enter New Zealand unless given a special direction

New Zealand officials spokesman

Now she has been given a visa to enter New Zealand, where she is shooting a TV advert.

But officials confirmed special permission was needed because of the US ban.

A spokesman said: “As Ms Lawson has been excluded from another country, namely the United States, she was ineligible to be granted a visa to enter New Zealand unless given a special direction.”

During the fraud trial of her former employees, her ex-husband Charles Saatchi accused Ms Lawson of being “off her head on drugs”.