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Stories in New Zealand

2025 Oceania Photo Contest

A close up of golden brown fungi.

Enter today!

Beneath the glow Taken as part of an ongoing personal project to photograph the beauty in tiny ecosystems that often go unseen to spread more awareness of their importance. © Crystal Richardson / 2024 Oceania Photo Contest

                   Capture awe. Spark action!

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural contest, entry for the 2025 Oceania Photo Contest is now open!

The 2025 contest continues to celebrate the power of photography to connect people with nature and inspire conservation action.

Whether you’re an amateur, a budding enthusiast or a total pro, and regardless of your equipment or method, all photographers have an important role to play in capturing the awe of natural world and allowing others to reflect on the part we all have to play in safeguarding its future. 

An aerial view of a dry lake in New Zealand.
Opuha For a Lake used for irrigating our local farms it was a shock to see the damage the threatening drought had achieved in such a small duration of time. © Bailee Barton / 2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

Past Winners

2024 Oceania Photo Contest Winners

The inaugural 2024 Oceania Photo Contest saw close to 2,000 incredible entries submitted from photographers across the Oceania region. Each image, across every category, brought something remarkable and unique, showcasing not just technical expertise but a deep understanding of storytelling and the moments that truly make us stop and think.

See all the winners
Looking under the barrel of a wave through a school of fish at a surfer on a surfboard.
A bird with its beak open about to eat an insect.
A fish leaping out of water with a bird chasing it.
Bushland on fire with birds flying around the tree canopies.
White veiny fungi. View All
Looking under the barrel of a wave through a school of fish at a surfer on a surfboard.

Salmon Surfer: One of the worlds best surfers Shane Dorian surfing around Margaret river, WA, Australia. Shot from underwater through a School of Australian Salmon. © Duncan Macfarlane / 2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

A bird with its beak open about to eat an insect.

Toss of Life: In an extraordinary display of agility, this Bee-Eater snatched a dragonfly mid-flight, then swiftly perched on a nearby branch. © Naidu Kumapatla /2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

A fish leaping out of water with a bird chasing it.

Roar of Anger: Egret fishing, meeting such a large Elops saurus, unable to eat, leaving a regretful look. The Elops saurus opened its mouth wide and rushed out of the seawater. © Xiaoping Lin / 2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

Bushland on fire with birds flying around the tree canopies.

Where there is smoke...: ...there's food. Kakadu, Northern Territory burn-off. Irresistible to the Kytes. © Michael S. Martin / 2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

White veiny fungi.

White: I was able to present these group of Marasmius genus fungi found in Puhipuhi Valley Scenic Reserve in their best forms. © Chin Kang Chia / 2024 TNC Oceania Photo Contest

Read more

High-altitude view looking across the bright blue waters of Lake Wakatipu and the road from Queenstown to Glenorchy in New Zealand; southern Alps mountains are in the distance.

New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand is home to breathtaking biodiversity. Learn about The Nature Conservancy’s work to safeguard our amazing natural world for people and nature.

A green bird emerging from a brown sack held by human hands.

2024 Oceania Photo Contest: New Zealand Winners

The Nature Conservancy is proud to announce the New Zealand winners of our 2024 Oceania Photo Contest!

People in a boat holding paddles vertically while looking to their left.

When Cultures Cross an Ocean

Aneika Young, Te Ao Māori Advisor recounts cultural exchange facilitated by TNC. The organization works with Indigenous and local communities to help support local conservation goals around the world.