Season: Spring 2025 | Entries open 1 September – close 30 November
Spring is here — and so is our very first Sanctuary Seasons photo competition!
From emerging ferns and fungi to birdsong in the canopy, spring at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is bursting with life. We’re inviting photographers of all ages to capture the magic of the ngahere in bloom and be in to win some special prizes.
Whether it’s a close-up of a tūī in the kōwhai, sunlight on the Brook Stream, or a moment of quiet wonder on the trail — your photo could be our first seasonal winner!
🌿 Tips for Spring
- Look out for budding leaves, forest fungi, flowering mānuka, and native birds in action
- Try to make use of beautiful natural light
- Make sure your entry is in high resolution
- Be patient, quiet, and kind to wildlife
🏆 Prizes
Each season, winners will be selected in two categories:
- Junior Photographer (under 18)
- Adult Amateur Photographer (18+)
Prizes include:
- An instant camera for the winner of the Junior Photography category
- A Family Ticket to a guided night tour
- A feature in our newsletter and social media
- Printed and displayed photo at the Visitor Centre
📥 How to enter
- Take your photo at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary between 1 September and 30 November
- Submit it via our online form (high-quality file preferred)
- Optional: share it on Instagram and tag us @brooksanctuary with the hashtag #BrookPhotoCompSpring
You can also scan the QR code at the Visitor Centre to go straight to the submission page (WiFi available on site).
Questions?
Feel free to get in touch with us at info@brooksanctuary.org.nz
📅 How it works
- One competition per season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter
- Entries open: First day of each season
- Entries close: Final day of each season
- Winners announced: Within two weeks of closing
You’re welcome to enter multiple photos (up to a maximum of 5), but please only submit photos taken during the current season at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
✨ Tips for a great entry
- Focus on seasonal themes, native flora and fauna, or unique Sanctuary moments
- Make sure your photo is high resolution
- Respect wildlife and follow Sanctuary guidelines while photographing
Terms & Conditions
Eligibility & Entries
- The competition is open to all photographers.
- Entrants under 18 must have the consent of a parent or guardian.
- Photos must be taken within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary during the current competition season.
- You may submit up to 5 entries per person, with each photo entered individually.
- Entries must be your own original work.
Copyright & Usage Rights
- You retain full copyright of your image(s).
- By entering, you grant the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, and display your photo(s) in any media, worldwide, for promotional, educational, or marketing purposes.
- We will always endeavour to credit photographers when their image is used, though this may not always be possible (e.g. in social media posts or printed materials).
Consent for Images of People
- Photos that include identifiable people must have the subject’s written consent (or parental/guardian consent if under 18).
- Entrants may be asked to supply proof of consent if their photo is shortlisted.
Photo Requirements
- Photos should be submitted in high resolution.
- Minor editing (e.g. cropping, colour/exposure adjustments) is allowed, but heavily manipulated or AI-generated images are not permitted.
- The Sanctuary reserves the right to disqualify entries that breach these conditions or are deemed inappropriate, unsafe, or offensive.
Prizes & Winners
- Winners will be announced within two weeks of the competition closing date.
- Winners agree to their name and image(s) being used in related publicity (newsletter, website, social media, displays, press releases).
- Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable for cash.
Liability
- The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or corrupted entries due to technical issues.
- Entrants are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights and consents for their images.
Agreement to Terms
- By submitting a photo, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.
