Always Be Naturing: Wild Aotearoa photo competition entries open

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

A balanced meal | Neale McLanachan

Focus your lens on nature

It’s that magical time again when the sun stays out late, SD cards hit their limits, and suddenly everyone you know is a budding wildlife photographer. The Tūhura Otago Museum photography competition is back, and for 2026, it’s going national.

This year’s event ties directly into our Always Be Naturing campaign. The goal is to get tamariki and communities outside. We want people to talk, walk, play and learn in the natural world.

Photography forces you to slow down and actually notice the wild world. It’s about standing still long enough to hear a pīwakawaka fan snap shut or crouching low to see the “forest” in a patch of moss. As our Coastal Otago Operations Manager, Gabe Davies, says,

“When you engage with nature creatively, you build a connection. That bond is exactly what helps us protect our biodiversity for the future.”

Pūteketeke yoga | Monty McGee

New for 2026: the Wild Aotearoa category

For 26 years, this has been an Otago-only affair. But in a move as bold as a kea eyeing up a wiper blade, the museum has launched a brand-new category: Wild Aotearoa.

For the first time, you don’t need a Dunedin postcode to enter. Whether you’re snapping a tūī in Northland or a gecko in the Alps, the whole country is invited. Tūhura Otago Museum Marketing Manager Charlie Buchan says the move responds to years of national interest—and as the Wildlife Capital of NZ, Dunedin is the perfect host for the national stage.

Water wings | Sam McGee

” data-image-caption=”

Water wings | Sam McGee

Water wings | Sam McGee

How to “Nature” with a camera:

• The wait: sit quietly for ten minutes. The birds will stop seeing you as a threat and start acting like nobody’s watching.

• Look closer: you don’t need a rare species to win. A well-lit shot of a common garden snail can be high art.

• Ethical clicks: no photo is worth distressing a creature. If the bird looks stressed, back off.

• Backyard bliss: You don’t need a Great Walk. Nature is happening in your local park or garden right now.

The details

Submissions are open now and close on 1 February. It’s the perfect motivation to get outdoors over the summer break. And there’s an attractive $1000 cash prize for the Wild Aotearoa category winner, as well as two $100 cash prizes, all generously donated by the Royal Albatross Centre.

Finalists will be featured in a major three-month exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum. So grab your phone or your camera, head outside, and show us how you’re naturing this summer.

For all the details, visit the Wild Aotearoa competition page: Wild Aotearoa | Tūhura Otago Museum

Focus your lens on nature

New for 2026: the Wild Aotearoa category

How to “Nature” with a camera:

The details

Share this: