Otago Girls' High School pupil, Cadet WO2 Emily Atkinson (18), won the title at the Devonport Naval base on Sunday after triumphing in physical and mental challenges against sea and army cadets from throughout New Zealand.
Miss Atkinson said she was ''very surprised'' to have won.
''Going into it I didn't know what to expect, so winning it is a big surprise.
''None of it really hit me until the night before, when I was ironing my uniform and I was so nervous I realised I'd ironed a tea towel, too.''
During the weekend event she competed in a man overboard drill, a first-aid exercise involving a real amputee and a mission which involved answering 80 historical military questions while wearing a gas mask and navigating catacombs.
Having been a cadet for the past five years she was well-equipped to give a speech on what being a cadet meant to her, to her family and to her community, she said.
The award included a trip to either Gallipoli or Passchendaele for World War 1 commemorations next year.
The prospect of visiting either place was exciting, she said.
''My family were in a number of different wars, so either place would be special.''
Next year she hoped to study psychology at the University of Otago so she could eventually serve as a specialist in the forces.
