Judges & Categories
Judges
Our judges for both the Murihiku and Central Lakes Art Exhibition and Awards will be announced soon.
Each of our judges have a strong background in the arts, and are knowledgable in a wide variety of mediums. They spend several days carefully considering each art entry before choosing a winner.
Winners are contacted prior to the awards night, where our judges will present the awards and explain why each piece was selected. Judges decisions are final.
Art Exhibition Categories
Early Childhood
Māori Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Māori materials, practices and
processes.
Pacific Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Pasifika materials, practices and
processes.
Kaitiaki Award
This award is for a creation that shows an understanding of guardianship and protection of
our environment. Consider sustainability of taonga and
how we can preserve and
protect our natural resources
for future generations.
Innovation Award
This award is for a creation that encompasses innovative ideas. This could include using
innovative methods,
applications, materials,
concepts and perspectives.
Whanaungatanga Award
The creation has reached
outside the walls of the centre/kindergarten to involve community, whānau, experts, agencies and the tamariki in
the development of the artwork.
Aspiring Artist Award
This is an award for an
individual entry. This recognises
an outstanding piece of art and
an artist who shows promise.
Mīharo Supreme Art Award
Outstanding concepts and execution. This piece has the potential to start conversations
or cause people to think,
question or inquire.
Digital Excellence Award
This award celebrates the innovation and creativity of ICT based applications and
initiatives.
Primary (Year 1-6)
Māori Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Māori materials, practices and
processes.
Pacific Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Pasifika materials, practices and
processes.
Kaitiaki Award
This award is for a creation that shows an understanding of guardianship and protection of
our environment. Consider sustainability of taonga and
how we can preserve and
protect our natural resources
for future generations.
Innovation Award
This award is for a creation that encompasses innovative ideas.
This could include using
innovative methods,
applications, materials,
concepts and perspectives.
Whanaungatanga Award
The creation has reached
outside the walls of the centre/kindergarten to involve community, whānau, experts, agencies and the tamariki in
the development of the artwork.
Aspiring Artist Award
This is an award for an
individual entry. This recognises
an outstanding piece of art and
an artist who shows promise.
Mīharo Supreme Art Award
Outstanding concepts and execution. This piece has the potential to start conversations
or cause people to think,
question or inquire.
Digital Excellence Award
This award celebrates the
innovation and creativity of ICT based applications and
initiatives.
Secondary (Year 7-13)
Māori Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Māori materials, practices and
processes.
Pacific Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Pasifika materials, practices and
processes.
Kaitiaki Award
This award is for a creation that shows an understanding of guardianship and protection of
our environment. Consider sustainability of taonga and
how we can preserve and
protect our natural resources
for future generations.
Innovation Award
This award is for a creation that encompasses innovative ideas.
This could include using
innovative methods,
applications, materials,
concepts and perspectives.
Whanaungatanga Award
The creation has reached
outside the walls of the centre/kindergarten to involve community, whānau, experts, agencies and the tamariki in
the development of the artwork.
Aspiring Artist Award
This is an award for an
individual entry. This recognises
an outstanding piece of art and
an artist who shows promise.
Mīharo Supreme Art Award
Outstanding concepts and execution. This piece has the potential to start conversations
or cause people to think,
question or inquire.
Digital Excellence Award
This award celebrates the
innovation and creativity of ICT based applications and
initiatives.
Open (Age 18-25)
Māori Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Māori
materials, practices and
processes.
Pacific Culture and Heritage Award
This can include traditional
and/or contemporary Pasifika materials, practices and
processes.
Kaitiaki Award
This award is for a creation that
shows an understanding of guardianship and protection of
our environment. Consider sustainability of taonga and
how we can preserve and
protect our natural resources
for future generations.
Innovation Award
This award is for a creation that encompasses innovative ideas.
This could include using
innovative methods,
applications, materials,
concepts and perspectives.
Whanaungatanga Award
The creation has reached
outside the walls of the centre/kindergarten to involve community, whānau, experts, agencies and the tamariki in
the development of the artwork.
Aspiring Artist Award
This is an award for an
individual entry. This recognises
an outstanding piece of art and
an artist who shows promise.
Mīharo Supreme Art Award
Outstanding concepts and
execution. This piece has the
potential to start conversations
or cause people to think,
question or inquire.
Digital Excellence Award
This award celebrates the
innovation and creativity of ICT
based applications and
initiatives.
Congratulations to our 2026 miharo murihiku art award winners:
Tohu Tautua - Murihiku Polyfest T-Shirt Design Competition
Beauden Alister O'Brien, Hauroko Valley Primary
Ka Mua, Ka Muri Award – Sponsored by Waihōpai Runaka
Early Childhood winner: Te Koha a Tangaroa, Drummond Rural Kindergarten
Primary School winner: Guardians of Murihiku: Sadie Harris, Hauroko Valley Primary
Secondary School winner: Ko Maui me Te Rā, Keely Kubala, Aurora College
Māori Culture and Heritage Award
Early Childhood winner: Te Ao Māori Creation Story, Pukeko Lounge, Weka Preschool
Primary School winners: Te Kete o Ngā Pūrākau, Woven Legends of our Land, Hauroko Valley Primary School, and
Pā Harakeke, Pātaka reo rua o te Rakitauneke, Waverley Park School
Pacific Culture and Heritage Award - Sponsored by McIntyre Dick
Early Childhood Education winner : Whiria Ngātahi, Gladstone Preschool
Primary School winner: Te Honu – A kaitiaki connecting us all, Londyn Tuhura, Waverley Park School
Secondary School winner: Forced Blooming, Poasa Tagomoa, Southland Boys’ High School
Kaitiaki Award -
Sponsored by Todd & Co Realty
Highly Commended: Aoraki Maunga, Riverton Primary
Early Childhood Education winner: Mā te Huruhuru Ka Rere te Manu, Winton Kindergarten
Primary School winner: Pā Harakeke, Te Pataka Reo Rua o Te Rakitauneke, Waverley Park School
Innovation Award - Sponsored by McCulloch & Partners
Primary School Winner: Faces from the carving room floor, Room 11, Waverley Park School
Secondary School winner: Te Ara o te Tuna, o le ula o le manuia, ma le alofa i tagata, tofa soifua ma ia maua se lumana'i manuia, Aurora College
Whanaungatanga Award – Sponsored by Property Brokers
Highly Commended: Pepeke Waiau, Waiau Area School
Early Childhood Education Winner: Tukutuku o tātou, Winton Kindergarten
Primary School winner: Korowai for Tāne, Waiau Area School
Secondary School winner: Fa’atuli, Footprints of the Tuli, Year 7/10 art students, Aurora college
Digital Excellence Award - Sponsored by Strawberry Sound
Highly Commended: Kai Carran-Tonga, Waverley Park School
Highly Commended: Te Ara O kiwa, Benson Boys, Central Southland College
Highly Commended: Tia, Izak Halder, Central Southland College
Early Childhood Education winner: Where curiosity becomes connection – Connection becomes understanding, Kew Pacific Islands Early Learning Centre
Aspiring Artist Award
– Sponsored by Craigs Design & Print
Early Childhood Education Winner: Maui’s hook and Moana’s Heihei,
Taimana Pikia, Rockdale Park Kindergarten
Primary School winners: Ko au, Harlow Kara, Te Wharekura o Arowhenua
Ka kite te Pounamu, Jupiter Stevenson, Te Wharekura o Arowhenua
Secondary School winner: Wahine Toa, Chevy Purvis, Central Southland College
Johnny Penisula Supreme Art Award Winner
Shoreline, Jeremy Maramba, Southland Boys’ High School
