Speaking to the New Zealand Herald on the red carpet for the premiere of The Hateful Eight tonight in Newmarket he said, " I've always been wanting to come to New Zealand for a long time, I have friends here I have friends who have family here and. I've been invited quite a few times, personally.
"So I decided that since I was already in Australia now would be the time I roll over."
The director attended the premiere with his long-time stunt woman Kiwi Zoe Bell, who he said did not twist his arm to attend.
"No she didn't, I brought it up to her. I'm having dinner with her family tomorrow night," he said.
Ms Bell, in an strapless, shimmery champagne-coloured dress, told the Herald working with Tarantino was "amazing and exhilarating and I learn every second I'm around him".
Taking the director to her home town of Waiheke Island was "on the plan", she said.
She would take him to Stoneyridge vineyard, "where it all began".
"That's was my first ever job."
Bell said it was important for New Zealand that the premiere was held in Auckland because "New Zealand deserves a little love".
"We keep putting lots of amazing stuff out and we're just far away enough that we sometimes get left off the world tour.
"So I think it's really important for us to get to feel like we're important enough. I also think it means the world to me that it's happening and I'm just really proud to introduce New Zealand to you guys and to introduce you guys to him. It's all warm and fuzzy everywhere for me really."
She denied twisting his arm to get him here, saying: "I have no idea if I have any responsibility in it, but it certainly didn't require any arm twisting."
She added, jokingly: "And I'd tell you if it did because I'm good at that."
Asked if he was scared of the stunt woman, she laughingly said: "Not scared of me at all, not he's not scared of me at all."
Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless said it was "amazing" that The Hateful Eight premiere was happening in Auckland.
"I think it's such a testament to how much he loves and values his friendship and partnership with Zoe Bell, who's one of the best women on the planet, New Zealand should be so proud of her."
She said she was expecting to "go on a wild, white knuckle roller coaster of a filmic experience" with the acclaimed director's eighth movie, "because no one will take you there quite like Tarantino".
"A lot of fun. Excited."
Hundreds of fans eager to get a glimpse of the director waited outside the movie theater. One lucky fan received a hug from Tarantino after showing him a cup she had made for him. He signed the cup and have her a hug resulting in cheers from the crowd.
Tarantino spent time signing autographs and talking to the fans.
One woman dressed as Mia from Pulp Fiction said she was "so excited" after meeting and talking to Tarantino.
"I've been his fan for decades," she said.
"So I'm super excited to see him I person."
He spotted her costume in the crowd. He said, 'oh Mia'."
Tanya Law and her husband Richard Law also met the filmmaker.
Tanya said she was "really excited".
"I've liked him for a really long one, my husbands a really big fan.
"I don't think there's a movie of his I don't like. "
The director was "really nice", she said.
"Everyone was really nervous because he had to go and do an interview and everyone was like aawww [we didn't get to meet him]. But he came back and apologised and he was just really lovely."
She added: "He said, 'hi honey how are you? Thanks for coming.'
"My husband had his hand shook, don't know if he's going to wash it for a while."
Will Agnew described Tarantino as "the gateway drug into cinema".
"He got me into filmmaking," he said.
"And he's right there shaking my hand, it was insane.
"He seemed like a real lovely guy as well. He took his time with everybody, signed autographs. He wasn't into the photos or anything like that."
He added: "He was cool, really cool ... I'm soaring right now."
His friend, who have her first name Mabh, said she got one better because Tarantino hugged and kissed her.
"She's got the better seal right there," Mr Agnew said.
Mabh said she'd watched all of Tarantino's movies at least 10 times each.
After signing a few more autographs he was led away by organisers but shouted to fans: "Don't worry, I'll be back - I just have to do some press."
Fashion designer Karen Walker attended as did Karl Urban.
