By Claire Hedgley
18-year-old Cody Yerkovich from Kaitaia was crowned Miss World New Zealand on Saturday at a formal event held at Sky City.
Six feet tall and of Maori and Pakeha descent, Ms Yerkovich was chosen unanimously by a panel of distinguished judges headed by Maureen Waaka who was Miss New Zealand in 1962.
Chosen from a field of 16 deserving and beautiful contestants, Ms Yerkovich was a popular winner, judging by the applause and congratulations from the audience.
The newly crowned beauty queen will go to the Miss World Pageant in November to represent New Zealand with more than 120 other contestants from around the world.
Proceeds from the Miss World New Zealand event will go towards purchasing an insulin pump for a young Rotorua Primary Schoolgirl - Sarah Smit.
Miss Smit is a type 1 diabetes sufferer.
The new pump will allow her to lead a normal life, free of multiple, daily injections.
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