2026 COMPETITION

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

THIS YEAR'S WINNERS

Rotary Waiheke Youth Art Award for Excellence

All entries and all age groups (0-19) were considered for this award.

PRIZE: $1000

Georgia Simpson
'Mustang'

Hinemoa Elder Award for Māori Art

Open to all ages (0-19)

PRIZE: $100 cash prize each

Two winners:

Hendrix Campbell
'My Little Sister Ambili'

AND

Amelia Hutchins
'What's in your kete?'

Wild Estate Award for Sculpture

Open to all ages (0-19) - all entries made using three dimensions in any media were considered.

PRIZE: An activities package at Wild Estate for two people valued at $150

Bella Hearn
'Moana-ray kikorangi'

Copy Expresso Award for Photography

All photographic entries and all age groups (0-19) were considered for this award.

PRIZE: $200 Voucher for printing at Copy Expresso

Benjamin Tyler
'Tiles'

Waiheke Young Painter Award

Open to all ages (0-19)

PRIZE: $200 Voucher for Waiheke Art and Craft

Aurelia Kment
'A Glimpse into the Unknown'

Oneleap Award for Digital Art

Open to all ages (0-19) - all entries made using digital media were considered.

PRIZE: $200 Voucher for PB Tech

Dietrich Sollis
'Lightning Sword (Excalibur)'

Waiheke Adult Learning Award for Drawing

All drawing entries and all age groups (0-19) were considered for this award.

PRIZE: $200 Voucher

Aya Hiroki
'A Summer at Little O'

Out There Surf and Skate Award for Bigger Kids

All entries from ages 9-12 were considered.

PRIZE: A $200 Voucher from Out There Surf

Indie Coyne
'Broken Wave the Dragon'

Talking Tree Hill Award for Big Kids

All entries from ages 5-8 were considered.

PRIZE: An art afternoon at Talking Tree Hill for 5-6 children (including afternoon tea, sculpture walk and art creation to take home). Value $500

Elio Elvy-Wilson
'The Earth Dragon'

Tots on the Rock Award for Little Kids

All entries from ages under 5 were considered.

PRIZE: $200 worth of kids art supplies

Isla McNeish
'Island Sunset'

Exhibition Awards

These are special merit awards for artworks also selected for the exhibition.

PRIZE: A $50 Voucher from Out There Surf

Kaiser Gillett
'Painty Man'

Aka Johnson
'Stop The Wars'

Layla Howes
'Lily Joy'

Juno Heuberger-Davies
'Cloudy Bay

Jarrah Tyndel
'Digital Mayhem'

Lupe Scarlett
'C.H.U.D.'

Funded by:

Waiheke Youth Art Awards Ngā Tohu Toi Rangatahi o Waiheke 2026 is a challenge to the rangatahi of Waiheke Island. It is a high profile opportunity for youth to create art and enter a competition which will focus on and extend the profile of young people in our community.

Waiheke Youth Art Awards is a community-led competition which allows the mana of island youth to shine. It is inclusive and continues to enthuse developing creative minds to think larger than their current artistic world.

There will be an exhibition of the winning artists to be held at Waiheke Adult Learning Centre. The opening will incorporate a prize-giving ceremony to acknowledge the talent of all the young artists who have entered and all the local businesses who have supported the competition.

The competition is judged by a panel which remains anonymous. The organiser of the competition is not on the judging panel.

We look forward to seeing the incredible artworks that will be entered in the 2026 competition.

Rules and conditions:

- All youth entering must reside regularly in a household on Waiheke Island.
- All youth entering must be under 19 years of age at the time of entry.
- You can enter the competition up to five times. Each occasion must be a separate entry and a unique piece of art.
- All entries must be received by 9pm 13 September 2026
- Artworks must be the original work of the artist submitting.
- Artist retains all copyright and ownership of their artwork but agrees that Waiheke Youth Art Awards can use an image of the work for promotional purposes.
- Only the first five entries from one artist will be considered, any further will be disregarded.
- The art can be part of schoolwork but must be available for exhibition during the final week of October.
- A parent/guardian or school teacher must supply their contact details with each entry.
- All judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Contact Waiheke Youth Art Awards

Phone - Jamie Stone 027 733 6958