Photography Competition & Exhibition for Children and Youth Aged 3-17        

This FREE youth art competition and exhibition celebrates Sea Week!

Toi Moana - Toi Tangata

Healthy Seas - Healthy People

An open invitation to all local young creatives -

Grab your camera and take a photograph that reflects one or more of the following:

- The natural beauty of the sea

- Your favourite local sea creatures

- Your personal connection to the sea

- Ocean conservation, protection, or preservation - e.g. pollution or overfishing

Your photograph will be exhibited in a collective showcase in CAN's Workshop Gallery for the month of March!

FREE entry! | Limited to 1 entry per person | Maximum 30 entries - Get in quick!

Your entry must be:

1. A photograph taken by the registered entrant. Edited and collaged photographs are welcome, but all images used must be the property of the registered entrant.
2. A digital file in .jpg or .png format only. High resolution is preferred.
3. A celebration of our beautiful oceans and/or sea creatures -- or convey a message related to ocean conservation, protection, or preservation.
4. Created without the use of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence).

A few important details:

• You will need to e-mail your .jpg or .png digital photograph file to bookings@thecan.co.nz by 4pm Monday 23rd February 2026. CAN will then print this in A4 size to be displayed on the wall for the exhibition.
• Alongside your digital file, you will need to provide the title of the artwork for wall labelling.
• CAN will take orders for prints of exhibited photographs in this exhibition at $15 each. CAN will organise the printing and take 50% commission of all print sales. By registering for this event, you give permission for copies of your image to be produced and sold.
• The Exhibition runs from 1st March to 31st March 2026 in the CAN Workshop Gallery.
• Late entries may be accepted if there are still spaces left - Maximum of 30 total.
• One prize per age group will be chosen by CAN Selectors, and one overall People's Choice Award will be voted on by the public.
• Age groups: 3-7, 8-12, 13-17

To Enter:

Register early to avoid missing out - Click on the Blue Button to Register!

For some inspiration: click here to learn more about some of New Zealand's sea creatures, what threats they face, and what they need to survive.

or click here to check out the 2025 Seaweek year in review

Official Site: Seaweek, an opportunity for all ages to discover the ways our lives are connected to the sea. 

"In March every year, we encourage and promote events and community action projects to inspire and enable this connection, through activities which include public engagement events inspired by the ocean".