Photographer of the Year - Final Call
Photographer - Kelly Wilson
Photographer of the Year entries close July 16
Every year we are flooded with glittering images celebrating New Zealand's society and environment—moments of jubilation and heartbreak, landscapes that are vibrant and those that sit quietly... they all contribute to a richer picture of who we are in 2025.
Contribute your best work to join this showcase of photography and culture.
Photographer of the Year is the country’s richest and most popular photographic event, encompassing a competition, exhibition, audience voting and awards night.
Win a share of $8000 cash, a Heritage Expeditions voyage worth $16,500 and Nikon photography gear topping more than $6000.
You'll be competing for the grand prix Nikon Photographer of the Year, Genesis Young Photographer of the Year, Senior Photographer of the Year, Ockham Residential People's Choice Award, Resene Colour Award and the new Te Ao Māori award.
Categories include Resene Landscape, Adventure, PhotoStory, Heritage Expeditions Wildlife, Society, MOTAT Aerial, Resene Built Environment, the popular Simplicity Portrait category and a new category for the stargazers, Stardome Astrophotography.
Photographers keep copyright. Start preparing now as entries close midday, Wednesday 16 July. Don't leave it til the last minute!
Check out the entry conditions.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?
There is a small charge of $25 to enter Photographer of the Year to cover some administration costs. But included in that fee is a free six-month digital subscription to NZGeo.com—3000 stories, 20,000 images and 250 hours of natural history television programming available on-demand.
We've waived the fee for young photographers (under the age of 25 on Sep 30, 2025), but you still get the subscription... so we're basically paying you to enter, it's madness :)
DO YOU TAKE COPYRIGHT ON MY PICTURES?
No. Never. We ask for permission to reproduce finalist images in the magazine, calendar and online, but only in association with Photographer of the Year competition.
Prizes galore!
As well as your share of $8000 in cold hard cash, the Grand Prix winner of the Nikon Photographer of the Year receives a Nikon Z6III camera with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens worth $6299.
This year's winner of the Heritage Expeditions Wildlife category goes on 12-day Beyond Fiordland expedition voyage to Auckland Islands, Snares and Campbell Islands along with the untamed wilderness of Fiordland's ice-carved mountains, forests and fiords valued at $16,500—the trip of a lifetime.
Entries are now open for Photographer of the Year, New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious photographic event.