And Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 Is…

The curtain has fallen on another unforgettable Miss Universe New Zealand Grand Final at SkyCity Theatre in Auckland, and we couldn't be more grateful to have been part of this incredible journey.

First and foremost, congratulations to Georgia Waddington, the newly crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2026, as well as the four outstanding finalists who represented confidence, individuality and elegance throughout the competition.

1st runner-up: Hannah Cross

2nd runner-up: Hollie Lintott

3rd runner-up: Caroline Thomas

4th runner up: Emily Faulkner

For Arapawa Blue Pearls, this collaboration was far more than creating beautiful pearl jewellery. It was an opportunity to celebrate New Zealand craftsmanship, support an inspiring organisation, and showcase the remarkable beauty of our rare pāua pearls on one of the country's most prestigious stages.

This collaboration would never have been possible without the trust and vision of Maria Siayngco, Director of Miss Universe New Zealand.

From the very beginning, Maria shared our passion for showcasing authentic New Zealand craftsmanship. We still remember her very first visit to our pearl farm on Arapaoa Island, where she selected the jewellery worn by the 17 finalists during the official photoshoot.

That visit became the starting point of a wonderful collaboration.

Over the following months, we imagined together what the official Miss Universe New Zealand winner's jewellery should represent.

The goal was simple: create something timeless, elegant and unmistakably New Zealand.

We would like to sincerely thank Maria and the entire Miss Universe New Zealand team for their trust, enthusiasm and support throughout this incredible experience.

Although the jewellery was gifted on Grand Final night, its story began many months earlier.

Following Maria's visit to Arapaoa Island, we worked together to understand exactly what she envisioned for the official Miss Universe New Zealand winner.

The jewellery needed to feel elegant, contemporary and timeless while celebrating the natural beauty of New Zealand's rare pāua pearls.

Unlike traditional gemstones, every pāua pearl is completely unique. Each pearl has its own colours, shape, lustre and natural characteristics.

Finding three pearls that looked as though they belonged together was one of the most demanding parts of the project.

Rather than selecting pearls from a single harvest, we carefully revisited pearls grown over several years.

Hundreds of pearls were compared before finally choosing three that shared exceptional lustre, beautiful surface quality and complementary colours.

Only once these three perfect pearls had been selected could the jewellery making begin.

The pearls were then entrusted to our talented local jeweller, Corey Broughton, based in Blenheim. Working closely together, we transformed the pearls into a refined necklace and matching stud earrings worthy of the next Miss Universe New Zealand.

Every detail was handcrafted in New Zealand, making this jewellery set a true celebration of local craftsmanship.

There is so much more to this story than we could ever fit into a single article.

From selecting the pearls to designing the jewellery and collaborating with Corey Broughton, every stage of the process reflects years of expertise and dedication.

We've captured this journey in a special behind-the-scenes Reel.

Watch the Reel here to discover how the official Miss Universe New Zealand winner's jewellery set came to life: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da8grNvRZf3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This collaboration perfectly reflects what Arapawa Blue Pearls stands for.

Every piece of our pearl jewellery begins on our pearl farm, where New Zealand's native pāua are carefully hatched and raised over many years before growing their remarkable pearls.

From there, every stage remains local.

Our pāua pearls are carefully selected on our farm on Arapaoa Island before being transformed into jewellery by local Blenheim artisan Corey Broughton, ensuring that every piece tells an authentic New Zealand story.

Working alongside Miss Universe New Zealand gave us the opportunity to share this story with a wider audience while celebrating women who embody confidence, ambition and authenticity.

It's a partnership we're incredibly proud of.

Over the past few months, we've shared the story behind our collaboration with Miss Universe New Zealand, from the official contestant photoshoot to the creation of the exclusive winner's jewellery.

Seeing the jewellery finally presented on stage was an incredibly proud moment for our entire team.

To everyone who followed along, supported us, engaged with our content or discovered pāua pearl jewellery through this partnership, thank you.

And once again, congratulations to Georgia Waddington, the new Miss Universe New Zealand 2026.

We wish her every success as she represents New Zealand on the international stage, carrying with her a jewellery set that celebrates not only elegance, but also the craftsmanship, passion and natural beauty of Aotearoa.

Stay tuned to our social media channels and newsletter to discover the jewellery set gifted to Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 and the four runners-up.