Whau Photo Competition Results – Theme of Peace
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Fifty photos were entered this year in our annual photo competition centred around the Whau River and its streams. This year World Water Day recognises the role peace has in making water available in areas of conflict. We borrowed the theme of peace for our photo competition.
Congratulations to Michael Wildman, Fellyne Cook and Melanie Hawkins who we think encapsulated the concept of peace on the Whau. Scroll down to see more. And enjoy!
First Place: Michael Wildman
Michael’s winning photo was taken in Ken Maunder Park, just after he’d returned from an Italian summer and when he was just happy to get out on any sunny day. The judges loved the sense of stillness in this photo.
Michael two other submissions also ranked highly. Of the coloured photo he commented that “I really love the sunsets we get out west Auckland, the Waitakeres seem to pull the clouds back to them, leaving a beautiful clear sky above us.”
Second Place: Fellyne Cook
“This photo was taken towards McLeod Road in Te Atatū South one morning when I was standing on my boat. Winter mornings are the best shots up the river.”
A true kaleidoscope of colour, yet calm too.
Third Place: Melanie Hawkins
Melanie’s winning photo “Waking up” was taken from the Ken Maunder Park walkway. She describes this photo as “A more traditional sense of peace looking out over the water. A place to pause as the wildlife and world begins to wake up.”
This photo is of the footbridge in from Mary Ave to Ken Maunder Park. “I love finding peace in the small things. The stillness of the water in the numbers on the bridge summed up the feeling of the morning today.”
“Take peace where you can find it. Walking under the bridge is an escape from traffic, and the low tide exposing mangroves adds to the atmosphere.” Photo taken under the Rata Street Bridge.
Spot Prize: Saryu Mae
This year, our judges also awarded a $30 spot prize to Year 13 student Saryu Mae from Avondale College for her photo titled “Love from Whau River”.
Saryu’s image were taken in the muddy brackish area of Whau River near Tony Segedin Esplanade Reserve in Avondale. If you look closely, one of the stamens is perfectly shaped like a heart.
“This is a tiny (around 5mm) flower of the mangrove, Avicennia marina australasica, which is the only tree that grows in water in NZ. Its Maori name is manawa which means heart. I wonder, did Māori also notice this tiny flower?”
Photo gallery
Thank you to all entrants for sharing with us their beautiful photos of this amazing awa. All the photos can be viewed in the gallery below – just click on an image to see its larger version and then use the arrows to navigate.
About World Water Day
The theme of the United Nations World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’. This is because where water is scarce or polluted tensions rise and spark conflict. Did you know that 2.2 billion people still live without safely managed drinking water, including 115 million people who drink surface water? (WHO/UNICEF, 2023).
In West Auckland we have clean drinking water and most of the time our water supply is plentiful. But due to old wastewater and stormwater drainage systems, the Whau River is unclean. Still, it is beautiful and can bring a sense of peace at times.
What’s next?
Te Whau Pathway Project runs a t-shirt design competition in spring – keep an eye on our socials for updates!
About this competition
| Date | Friday 22nd March 2023 |
| Location | Whau River Catchment Area |
| Type | Photography |
| Who | 24 photographers in the Whau River area |
| Funders | Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust |
