East Aucklander Shae Parsons has been crowned Miss Earth New Zealand 2025 and says she’s elated to take her “message of tech-powered environmental action to the world”.
Proudly a graduate of Botany Downs Secondary College, Parsons now works as a tech consultant specialising in data and artificial intelligence.
She will now represent Aotearoa at Miss Earth International, one of the largest and most prestigious global pageants focused entirely on environmental advocacy, Parsons says.
Aligned with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Miss Earth movement is “dedicated to promoting climate resilience, sustainability, and grassroots environmental leadership”.
“We don’t have to choose between innovation and the environment,” says Parsons.
“With the right frameworks, AI can be a powerful guardian, helping us protect our planet while uplifting our people.”
Parsons says her advocacy is focused on “how artificial intelligence can support environmental restoration, from tracking deforestation and biodiversity loss to reducing energy waste and enhancing climate forecasting”.
“It’s a timely perspective that merges tech literacy with sustainability and I’m determined to bring that to the international stage.”
Parsons holds a Master of Computer and Information Science degree with first-class honours and has spent the past few years working on AI strategies for both the public and private sectors.
She’s part of the Māori advisory panel for the AI Forum of New Zealand, contributing to national discussions on “responsible tech development, data ethics, and inclusion”.
She says she’s also spoken at major events such as the AI Summit 2024, and was previously an ambassador for She Sharp, a non-profit organisation focused on encouraging more women into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Growing up in east Auckland, Parsons says Botany Downs Secondary College helped shape her “early love for science and community service”, two values now defining her professional and advocacy journey.
“This isn’t just about a crown. It’s about using every platform, whether it’s a boardroom or a pageant stage, to lead with purpose, intelligence, and care,” she says.
With her win at Miss Earth NZ 2025, Parsons joins a global movement of “Beauties for a Cause,” using their voices “to drive meaningful action for the environment”.
She will compete later this year at Miss Earth International, aiming to “show that climate leadership can come from coders, creatives, and queens alike”.
- For an earlier Times story about Shae Parsons’ journey in Miss Earth NZ 2025, read: https://www.times.co.nz/lifestyle/from-botany-downs-to-miss-earth-nz/
