Eye on Nature Creative Arts
Saturday 20 September - Sunday 05 October, 2025
Teaching tamariki to love the environment through art!
Eye on Nature Creative Arts is the Beautification Trust's annual art competition for South and East Auckland kindergarten and primary school students.
Students are challenged to create art around the Eye on Nature theme, making use of sustainable materials and re-purposed waste.
The judges assess the artworks based on their interpretation of the theme, use of materials, the artist’s statement about their work, originality, innovation, construction and effort. The winning schools and kindergartens are awarded cash prizes and art supply vouchers, with a total prize pool worth $2,550!
All entries will be displayed in the professional exhibition space at the Auckland Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre during the October school holidays.
This Year's Theme: Wellbeing - Taiao and Me
For your Creative Arts creation, think about these three questions:
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How can I connect with nature using Te Whare Tapa Whā?
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How can I help nature, myself, and my community to stay healthy?
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How does a healthy environment help people feel good?
You might be inspired by things like planting trees, looking after wildlife, going for bush walks, composting, picking up rubbish, caring for the soil, using active transport, or simply spending quiet time in nature.
Our Eye on Nature theme for 2025 is ‘Wellbeing - Taiao and Me’. It’s about looking after nature and looking after ourselves. When nature is healthy, so are we!
We are part of nature. Just like the forests, rivers and oceans need balance to stay strong, our own wellbeing also needs balance. We can use tools like Te Whare Tapa Whaa to help us understand this.
Enter the competition
Eye on Nature Creative Arts is open to South and East Auckland kindergartens and primary schools.
Home schooled students or students entering independently of their school are also welcome to enter.
There is no cost to enter. We believe all children should have access to environmental and sustainability education, so participation in this programme is free of charge.
Entries for 2025 are open from Saturday 20 September - Sunday 05 October, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Prize categories
Kindergarten
1st: $500
2nd: $250
3rd: $100
Primary School
1st: $750
2nd: 500
3rd: $250
People's Choice
Awarded after the exhibition to the artwork with the most public votes.
Beautification Trust Pick
Awarded to the artwork that shows an awesome engagement with the theme and commitment to sustainability.