Sharon was born in Hunterville and now lives on a half-acre (0.2ha) property about 10km north on State Highway 1, with her grandson and several dozen chickens.
She says it is the perfect place to live as it's in the middle of all the places she loves to go - Kaitaia, Christchurch, Napier and New Plymouth.
After her divorce some years ago she wanted to change her surname but, when she wanted to use her grandfather's name, Sharon's Exclusive Brethren grandmother wouldn't tell her what it was.
"My old maiden name was my father's adopted name, so after I divorced I wanted to choose a new name. I was studying visual arts at UCOL in 1998 and one of my classmates suggested 'New Zealand', because I've always signed my artwork Sharon.NZ.
"I sent my application and cheque off to the deed poll office. When it came to the Ms/Mrs/Dr part I just put 'Sharon', so it didn't even cross my mind until I received the letter that I was now Miss New Zealand," she said.
Since the change, 50-year-old Sharon New Zealand said everyone - including her five children - has been "absolutely positive" in their response.
Well, almost everyone.
"For the several thousand people I've spoken to since I changed it, there have been only two people on the phone who were negative about it.
"I think it's just jealousy on their part," she said.
She says her changed name has given her "endless enjoyment and hilarity" and she has experienced some unexpected benefits as a result.
"There have been a few times when I'm in a queue and a new lane is opened up and they say 'Miss New Zealand, we're ready for you now'.
"I have friends who invite me around for dinner parties and tell their guests Miss New Zealand will be there."
Although she is an artist and part-time writer, most of her time is now spent caring for her grandson Hunter, who has ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder.
His needs mean she has little opportunity to socialise, so she is active on Facebook, with her own personal page and running a group called Straight Up Poultry Chat NZ.
This group stems from another hobby: running a "retirement home" for old chickens.
"With the land and gardens I have, I decided to become an advocate for geriatric hens, and I asked for people to give their old hens.
"I promised I would never kill them, and I don't really have a need for the eggs, but I wanted to give them a home.
"In six weeks I got about 60 of them and some people gave me ducks as well."
She has a stall near her home to sell eggs but she donates most to the Methodist Social Services foodbank in Palmerston North.
"I can't really have a shop because I'm on a dangerous stretch of road.
"It costs me more than $100 to feed them every month but they're a great source of amusement to me."
Miss New Zealand says she loves her native land and is happy to be able to show that love in her own name.
"I love this country. I never want to go anywhere else."