World Water Day – Photo Competition Results 2026
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We were blown away by the response to this year’s Whau River Photo Competition — 88 incredible photos 📸.
This year’s theme, inspired by World Water Day’s focus on Water = Life, sparked some seriously powerful storytelling and – a big change from previous years – many photos taken in a golden light! From quiet moments along the awa to striking reminders of environmental change, your photos captured how the Whau River and its streams are living, changing, and responding right now.
Huge thanks to everyone who got involved. Every photo helps people see the Whau differently — not just as a place, but as something worth protecting 💧
🎉 Big congrats to Soon Lee, Sharra Martin, and Leila Lindqvist. Your images stood out for the way they brought the story of the Whau to life — thoughtful, honest, and visually stunning. Scroll on and take it all in — this is our awa, through your eyes.
Winners
First Place: Soon Lee
For Te Atatū Peninsula resident Soon Lee, an ordinary bus ride to work turned into an award-winning photograph. Having lived in Te Atatū North for more than 20 years, Soon regularly travels into the city by bus and enjoys watching the Whau River mouth as the sun rises.
“Most days it’s a really lovely view,” he said. “On that particular morning, I noticed how calm the water was. The ripples on the surface were the only sign of life, and I thought the contrast between the stillness and that movement looked really beautiful.”
The photograph was captured in just a few seconds before the view disappeared behind the motorway overpass.
“You only get a second or two, so I just take a couple of snaps and hope one works. Most of the time they’re nothing special, but once in a while you get a really lovely one.”
Despite taking the image from a moving bus, the photo came out remarkably clear thanks to a tip he learned from a friend.
“If you press your phone right up against the window, you avoid getting reflections from inside the bus. And maybe because these buses are quite new, the windows are clean too!”
An enthusiastic amateur photographer, Soon uses only his phone to capture images in his spare time. By day, he works as a biology technician at the University of Auckland, where his photography is usually limited to bacterial cultures rather than landscapes. Having lived in Te Atatū North for more than 20 years, he has witnessed many changes in the area over the years. His winning photograph is a reminder that beautiful moments can appear in the middle of everyday life — even during the morning commute.
Second Place: Sharra Martin
When Te Atatū South resident Sharra Martin spotted a group of children heading off together on the new and ever-busy Te Whau Pathway boardwalks during the first few weeks after it opened, she knew it would make a great photograph. Her photo shows her son Rob and a group of neighbourhood friends enjoying one of the first weekends on the new pathway.
Rob, a student at Freyberg Community School, is part of an unofficial “bike squad” of local children who regularly meet up to ride together. According to Sharra, around 15 neighbourhood kids now use the pathway as their meeting place.
“We’ve got a little WhatsApp group and someone will ask, ‘Is anyone heading down now?’ Then a bunch of them will meet up,” she said.
The pathway has inspired adventures beyond Te Atatū South. During the school holidays, parents accompanied the children all the way to Waterview and the skate park, while the mums have organised their own rides and coffee catch-ups. You can see some local Freyberg parents standing in the background of this photo.
“We rode to Point Chevalier for coffee one Sunday. It’s been really cool.”
The photograph was taken with an old Lumix camera passed on by her father after her daughter Molly became interested in entering the competition. Molly’s own entry also impressed the judges, finishing in fourth place.
Sharra, who teaches with Northern Health School supporting children unable to attend school full-time because of illness, said she expected the excitement around the pathway to fade over winter.
“But it hasn’t. There’s almost always someone out there. It’s been amazing,” said Sharra. “We thought the traffic on the new boardwalks might die off during winter, but it really hasn’t.”
During its first month, Te Atatū boardwalks had over 30,000 individual trips.
Third Place: Leila Lindqvist
For 15-year-old Avondale College student Leila Lindqvist, some of the best photo opportunities are close to home.
Living near the upper reaches of the Whau River in Avondale, Leila captured The Golden Ducks from Tamora Lane after adventuring out on a late summer evening. Leila regularly spots ducks, pūkeko and the occasional kōtare (kingfisher) near the Whau.
“Avondale was built around the Whau River,” Leila said. “The water is the life of Avondale, so I thought it fitted the theme, Water is Life.”
Using only her phone camera, Leila worked quickly as the evening light faded, taking multiple shots before choosing her favourites.
Leila, who also entered the competition in 2025, submitted three entries this year. Judges noted Leila’s growing eye for using light in her work.
Here are Leila’s photos from 2025:
And here are Leila’s three photos from 2026!
Leila is looking forward to the completion of the Rizal Crossing, near her home, which will provide a new walking connection between Avondale and New Lynn.
“Once the bridge is finished, it’ll be much easier to walk across to New Lynn,” she said.
Photo gallery
Thank you to everyone who shared their beautiful photos of our amazing awa! Click on an image to activate the galley pop-up. Click on each photo to see the photographer’s name.
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 2026 |
| Location | Whau River Catchment Area |
| Type | Photography |
| Who | Photographers in the Whau River area |
| Funders | Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust |
