The windy city has taken the Miss Universe New Zealand crown for 2011, with Miss Wellington, Priyani Puketapu (centre), winning top honours in front of a packed ballroom at the Amora Hotel Wellington last night (May 1, 2011).

Miss North Harbour (Auckland), Talia Bennett, and Miss Howick (Auckland), Courtney Ramsdale, were first and second runners-up. With Miss Tend-a-Foot, Nancy Yan, and Miss Great South Vets, Isabelle Pearson, round off the top five.
  
In her acceptance speech, Miss Puketapu dedicated her win to her Uncle John, Nanny Puketapu and Granny, close family members who had all passed within a short time.

“We are confident that Priyani Puketapu will do New Zealand proud at the Miss Universe final in São Paulo, Brazil, to take place on September 12, 2011,” says pageant director Val Lott.
  
Head of the judging panel, Lucire publisher Jack Yan, says that 2011’s contestants were the best he and his fellow judges had seen since 2006.
  
“Only one and a half points separated the contestants when we finished the interview night,’ he said referring to the Saturday session they had with the judges. “It was the tightest we had ever seen it.”
  
The judges said Miss Puketapu, who is currently studying toward a bachelor of communication, majoring in journalism, was the most consistent, intelligent and confident contestant.

The charity auction at the pageant benefited the New Zealand Red Cross’s Christchurch earthquake appeal.

Photo credit: Brady  Dyer

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