Judeena Carpenter, representing the Christchurch Irish Society, won the 2013 title ahead of seven other Roses in New Plymouth on Saturday night.

It was the first time the competition had been held in the region for 18 years after Taranaki's 2012 Rose Alana Marshall won the national title.

Miss Carpenter, a 25-year-old structural engineer, hails from Auckland but has been helping out with the Christchurch rebuild for the past 18 months.

"I'll be back in my hi-vis vest and site boots. Unfortunately being the Rose of Tralee does not get you out of Fletcher's health and safety policy," Miss Carpenter told the Taranaki Daily News yesterday.

Friends of Miss Carpenter joked she should enter the Christchurch competition while having a few drinks on St Patrick's Day.

"I was a little bit reluctant at first but I'm so glad I did it now," she said.

"I've gained a lot of confidence, met a lot of great people and learnt a lot about myself. It's all about challenging yourself and getting outside of your comfort zone."

The win had come as a shock, she said.

Miss Carpenter will now represent New Zealand at the international Rose of Tralee festival, in County Kerry Ireland, in August. Continue reading