Tamariki creativity shines at Eye on Nature Creative Arts 2026

The annual Eye on Nature Creative Arts competition, hosted by the Beautification Trust, invited tamariki to explore how we can care for te taiao by working together. This year's theme, Ka tipu tahi taatou – Together We Grow, encouraged kindergarten and primary school tamariki to show how their schools, whaanau, friends and communities can come together to make a positive difference for the environment.

The Prizegiving ceremony was held on Saturday 26 September, celebrating the creativity and environmental thinking of the tamariki who entered the competition.

At Eye on Nature Creative Arts, everyone is a winner, but some artworks stood out to the judges for the way they interpreted this year's theme. As the judges said, “we were blown away by the high standard of entries this year.”

Group photo during the prizegiving ceremony for Eye on Nature Creative Arts, at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

The Award-Winning Art

 Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School took first place in the Primary School category with Te Kainga o te Pukeko - A Home for Tomorrow. The artwork was inspired by the school's Litter Warriors, a group of tamariki who give up their breaktimes to help keep their school and surrounding environment clean. While exploring the area, the Litter Warriors discovered puukeko eggs, sparking the idea for the artwork. The piece explores the impact of development on native wildlife, and the responsibility people have to care for the whenua and protect the remaining habitats of pukeko and other native species.

Ormiston Primary School students Varna and Venba Durai took second place with Our Roots, Our Actions, Our Earth. The sisters’ artwork shows how everyday actions can help care for the Earth, from reducing waste and recycling to planting for bees and birds. People holding hands around the Earth represent the power of working together, with harakeke weaving connecting them to a healthy Earth and their Tree of Life.

Third place went to South Auckland Middle School student Riddhi Narayan for Aqua Glow, an artwork highlighting the impact of rubbish and plastic on marine life. Riddhi's artwork also used recycled and homemade materials, including a recyclable cardboard box, soft plastics, homemade salt dough and homemade paint. The judges said, “a considerable amount of thought was taken throughout the creation of this art piece to ensure it had sustainable life-cycle, even after the exhibition.”

The kindergarten entries showed that tamariki of all ages have ideas about what it means to care for te taiao and work together. Aorere Kindergarten took first place with All Trees Grow Different, celebrating the ongoing mahi of tamariki and their community. The artwork shows how friends, whaanau and kaiako work together to help tamariki grow, while making sustainable action accessible to all learners, including neurodiverse tamariki. Judges praised its innovative design, including a hidden QR code that lets viewers experience the joy of community action.

Second place went to Cascades Kindergarten for He taonga te maatauranga - Knowledge is a treasure, a book capturing their collective journey to care for te taiao. Its chapters share hands-on learning, from collecting worm wee and harvesting seeds to growing vegetables, sharing kai and learning about bees with a member of their community.

Little Bunny Childcare took third place with Sustainable Growth. The project explores how everyday choices, such as reusing materials and caring for nature, can help create a healthier future.

The Artist Choice Award went to Immanuel Preschool Papatoetoe for He Taiao, He Oranga (A Healthy Environment, A Healthy Future). The artwork that represents whanaungatanga, teamwork and our shared responsibility to care for Papatūānuku. Grace from Pohū Arts said, “The way you connected with your wider community reminded me of when I was younger and I was also in groups that worked to ensure environmental friendliness.”

Family Fun School Holiday Event

The free exhibition is now open to the public at the Auckland Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre until Sunday 11 October, giving families and the wider community the chance to see the winning artworks alongside all the other entries.

Visitors are also invited to vote for their favourite artwork for the People's Choice Award.

Thank You to Our Supporters

Eye on Nature Creative Arts is part of the Beautification Trust's annual Eye on Nature environmental education programme, which gives tamariki opportunities to learn about te taiao through creative and hands-on experiences.

This programme wouldn't be possible without the continued support from our partners and funders, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Auckland Council, and five of the Southern Local Boards - Howick, Papakura, Manurewa, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu. Thank you for believing in this programme and helping us to create opportunities for our tamariki.

Local board representatives who attended the prizegiving ceremony for Eye on Nature Creative Arts, at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

The 2026 Eye on Nature Creative Arts Winners 

Kindergarten Winners:

3^rd place, $100: Little Bunny Childcare, Sustainable Growth

2^nd place, $250: Cascades Kindergarten, He taonga te maatauranga - Knowledge is a treasure

1^st place, $500: Aorere Kindergarten, All Trees Grow Different

Primary School Winners:

3^rd place, $250: South Auckland Middle School - Riddhi Narayan, Aqua Glow

2^nd place, $500: Ormiston Primary School - Varna & Venba Durai, Our Roots, Our Actions, Our Earth

1^st place, $7500: Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School, Te Kainga o te Pukeko - A Home for Tomorrow

Other:

Artist Pick, $150: Immanuel Preschool Papatoetoe, He Taiao, He Oranga (A Healthy Environment, A Healthy Future)

People’s Choice Award, $150: To be determined