A 25-year-old Air New Zealand air hostess is the new Miss Samoa New Zealand who will be competing in this year's pageant. She is Cherish Faamanu Manaia.

Held at the Church Unlimited in West Auckland on Saturday, the Miss Samoa New Zealand crown was contested by five proud Samoan women.

Ms. Manaia is from the villages of Malifa, Nuusuatia, Satufia in Satupaitea, and Asau in Savaii but she is currently based in Christchurch New Zealand.

Lemauga Lydia Sosene who was the guest speaker of the event and is a Samoan and a Member of the New Zealand Parliament encouraged the girls to represent Samoa with passion and courage.

"It's about listening to our young women with their aganuu showcasing their talent and seeing what they bring forward to be a contestant," she said.

"The task that is before us is to seek that one young woman or represent Samoa in New Zealand and go forth and also be a participant in the competition overseas.

"My prayer is that they stand with passion, with courage, and with dignity and they serve Samoa in the very best as it's not just Samoa but they represent New Zealand."

The newly crowned Miss Samoa New Zealand won two minor awards and three of the four main awards including the Best Talent Award, Best Interview Award and Best Introduction Award.

Ms. Manaia takes over from Shilohm Vaeluaga Filipi who carried the title from 2022 to 2023.

"To think that this time last year, I was also standing on the stage of that Fale Samoa, nervous but very very excited," Ms. Filipi recalled on her journey as the Miss Samoa New Zealand.

"A dream. And regardless of the result, I was proud to have taken the chance on the dream that my younger self, only ever dreamt of.

Minor awards:

Friendship Award - Finalist Number 1 Kayla Fatima Schwalger

Miss Photogenic Award - Finalist Number 4 Cherish Faamanu Manaia

Miss Personality Award - Finalist Number 3 Annastasia Maletina Tarako

Miss Samoa New Zealand 2023 People's Choice Award - Cherish Faamanu Manaia

Four main awards: 

Best Introduction Award - Cherish Faamanu Manaia

Best Siva Samoa Award - Seira Janet Siliva

Best Talent Award - Cherish Faamanu Manaia

Best Interview Award: Cherish Faamanu Manaia

Places: 

Fourth runner up: Karasa Foai Fuga

Third runner up: Kayla Fatima Schwalger 

Second Runner up: Annastasia Maletina Tarako

First runner up: Seira Janet Siliva Ale Palelei