Organised by long-standing Dunedin artist and Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery owner Bruce Mahalski, the Great Kiwi Poster Competition 2023 is the fourth time the event has been held.
The first competition was a local event held in Wellington in 2017, with the competition expanding to become a national event in 2021, with an anti-racism theme.
The name Great Kiwi Poster Competition was coined for the 2021-22 event, and Mr Mahalski aims to use the name this year and for future bi-annual poster competitions with themes around environmental and social justice issues.
Launched late last month at North East Valley Normal School, the Great Kiwi Poster Competition has the theme "Protect Our Future — Tiaki a Mātāhauariki".
Mr Mahalski said this theme gave people many options for topics to illustrate, including expanding local food self-sufficiency, ensuring safe drinking ware, protecting and restoring biodiversity, expanding carbon-sink reserve areas, empowering tangata whenua and local communities and reducing consumption and emissions.
This year’s competition has four age categories — 5-10 years, 11-14 years, 15-21 years and 21 and over — with the winner of each category receiving $1000 and having their poster displayed across the motu.
Entries close on July 16, and will be judged by artists Michael Tuffery, Fifi Colston and Kezia Field, with the winner to be announced in August.
It is hoped an exhibition of the best posters will be hosted by Tuhura Otago Museum.
Sponsors of the Great Kiwi Poster Competition include Phantom Billstickers, Hell Pizza, the Jeanette Fitzsimons Climate Action Grants scheme and fundraising via Givealittle.
For more information visit greatkiwiposter.com
