KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Miss Universe competition is ditching city lights for farm charm.
After being hosted in Auckland since the pageant was relaunched in 2006, the competition is now being shifted to the Horowhenua town of Levin, the Dominion Post reported.
Levin was well-suited to host the final, particularly given this year's theme was "small-town charm", national director Val Loft said.
"We are really looking forward to holding it in Horowhenua it is a wonderful opportunity for lots of people to see many beautiful spots in the area I did not even know about," Mrs Lott said.
Horowhenua was also the home to last year's Miss Universe New Zealand winner, Samantha Powell of Paraparaumu.
The pageant returned to New Zealand in 2006 after a five-year absence .
- NZPA