The
2009 New Zealand Rose of Tralee is Lisa Monaghan.
Lisa represented the Invercargill Irish Society.
She was born in 1986, and has returned to her birthplace Invercargill, to embrace family and friends and commence work as a care and protection social worker at Child, Youth and Family, having graduated earlier this year from the University of Canterbury.
Irish ancestry is on both sides of Lisa's family, her maternal grandfather born in Belfast and paternal great grandfather hailing from Galway Bay. Both men emigrated to Southland and married local girls.
Lisa enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, camping and the outdoors, dreaming of her future travel incorporating voluntary work in a third world country, maintaining her fitness and most of all the opportunity to share a laugh.

The 2009 contestants:
(l to r)Amy Roache (Christchurch), Allanah Ellerton (Taranaki), Aislinn Ryan (2008 NZ Rose, Hutt Valley), Lucy McAuliffe (Hutt Valley), Geraldine Roper (Auckland),
Katrina O'Keeffe (Manawatu), (seated) Rosanna Gellatly (Kapiti Coast), Lisa Monaghan (Invercargill)
Follow Lisa Monaghan as she represents New Zealand in Tralee in 2009
“Winning the Rose title was a surprise - and a great honour!”