2026 COMPETITION

Welcome to Waiheke Youth Art Awards 2026

Easy to enter. Open to all Waiheke youth aged younger than 19 years.

This year's competition will be the fifth Waiheke Youth Art Awards! Once again the community has got behind supporting this competition with incredible prizes.

All of the island's youth from ages 0-18 are eligible to enter, and all are considered for the Rotary Waiheke Youth Art Award which has a prize of

$1000 cash.

There are a number of categories, each their own award. Each award will has a prize sponsored by a relevant local business or individual. Non-medium-specific categories are open to all media. You can enter up to five pieces of art.

ENTRIES CLOSE 9pm Sunday 13 September

THIS YEAR'S PRIZES

Rotary Waiheke Youth Art Award for Excellence

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

PRIZE: $1000

Hinemoa Elder Award for Māori Art

Open to all ages (0-19)

PRIZE: $200 cash prize

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

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

Waiheke Young Painter Award

Open to all ages (0-19)

PRIZE: $200 Voucher for Waiheke Art and Craft

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

Waiheke Adult Learning Award for Drawing

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

PRIZE: $200 Voucher

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

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

Tots on the Rock Award for Little Kids

All entries from ages under 5 were considered.

PRIZE: $200 worth of kids art supplies

Funded by:

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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