PFK kauri connections art competition
- Pest Free Kaipatiki
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Welcome to the PFK art competition information page! Below you can find all the information you need to enter. Once your artwork file is ready, click the button below to submit your artwork! Good luck!
About the competition:
The PFK Kauri connections art competition is being held to raise awareness about the importance of kauri trees and kauri protection particularly within Kaipātiki.
Kauri trees (Agathis australis) are important ecosystem engineers and vital parts of our local ngahere. Unfortunately, they are threatened by kauri dieback disease, which spreads through soil and water. As a community we can work together to look after our kauri and stop the disease spreading to healthy trees. Raising awareness and sharing your knowledge with your friends and whānau is the first step.
To learn more see our kauri protection page.
The top two artwork from the competition will be used to help create new collateral for PFK to promote kauri protection in Kaipātiki.
Quick Links:
Category descriptions
Kauri connections
Kauri connections is our open category.
Kauri are a vital part of the ngahere (forest), their presence shapes the space around them. Outside of the forest, people form connections to the kauri in their homes and communities. Kauri connections can be seen in the molecular, the individual and the vast.
The future of kauri
The future of kauri category is reserved for artists aged 12-years-old and under.
Kauri can live for thousands of years: 10, 20, or 10,000 years into the future what do you think the world would look like for our kauri trees? What are the actions we can take to protect these trees for the future?
Submission Details
The submission period is from April 1st till May 1st 2026, closing at 11.59PM. Submission is through GoogleForm, which can be found at the top of this page.
Along with your artwork file (.jpeg) please also provide your artist's details, a description of your artwork (max. 500 words), and your artist's social media account, or a local organisation to promote, should you win. See the 'Prizes' section for details.
If you have trouble submitting through the GoogleForm, or have any related questions please contact team@pfk.org.nz before the submission deadline.
Prizes
Each category will have one grand prize for the winning artwork.
Kauri connections:
The 1st place winner of the Kauri connections category will receive the following:
A Gordon Harris art supplies gift card worth $200.
Two items of PFK collateral with their artwork featured.
Promotion of their studio / artists social media account in the PFK newsletter and social media. If the winner does not wish to promote their account, they may promote a local organisation of their choosing (that also aligns with PFK values).
The future of kauri:
The 1st place winner of The future of kauri category will recieve the following:
A Gordon Harris art supplies gift card worth $100.
A framed print of their artwork.
One item of PFK collateral with their artwork featured.
Judging
Artwork will be judged on several criteria and will take submitted artwork descriptions into account. Judging will be done by a group of 4 jurors.
Terms and Conditions
Please see the document below for the full terms and conditions of the competition.
Tips for the competition
Learn a bit about kauri, you can use our webpage as a starting point.
Make a brainstorm for the theme of your category. Create a big picture of the topic, then choose what message you want to show in your artwork.
Get creative: is there a new way to portray kauri? Can you incorporate humour, hope, or something personal into your artwork?
Take work in progress (WIP) photos or videos. These show unfinished work and can also the artist in the process of art creation. PFK may request WIP photos/videos be provided to support the originality of your artwork.
Work on your artwork description. Though a picture paints a thousand words, use the description to highlight any complex themes or visually subtle aspects of your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit for the open category?
No, there is no age limit for the open category. Artists who are 12 or under are allowed to enter the open category if they wish.
What medium can my artwork be in?
We will accept submissions in any 2D mediums (drawings, paintings, digital work, collage etc.), or 3D mediums that can be captured fully by a photograph.
Keep in mind that submission is through digital file (.jpeg) and the winning artworks will be used to create PFK collateral (eg. T-shirt, re-usable cup, tote bag etc.).
How are the winners decided?
Winners will be decided by a panel of judges. This will be comprised of the Kauri Protection Campaign Coordinator, the PFK Chief Executive, a PFK board member and the PFK Communications Lead.
Can parents/guardians help their young artists in the Future of kauri category?
Yes, parents and guardians are allowed to help their young artists in preparing the materials, setting up and writing their descriptions for submission. However, the concept of the artwork, creation and submitted description should originate and be lead by the artist.
If parents or guardians contribute significantly to the artwork it should be submitted to the open category as a collaborative piece instead.
What will PFK do with my artwork?
PFK will be using the winning artwork from each of the two categories to create a series collateral (eg. T-shirts, re-useable cups, tote bags). Artists will retain the ownership rights of their submitted artwork. For more information regarding copyright and the use of artwork, please see the terms and conditions section.
Can a submitted artwork be made by a group of artists?
Yes, if a group of artists make an artwork together, they can enter it as one submission. This being said, the prize will remain the same. The 'age' of a group depends on the age of the oldest artist in the group. See the parents/guardians FAQ for parent/guardian help.
Image Credits:
Tane-Mahuta: image by Kaakahu1991 on iNaturalist. CC by-NC 4.0.
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