Filter by Date:
Regional field advisors
Contact an advisor to investigate or negotiate public outdoor access.
Pocket Maps
Get the app to take our maps with you just about anywhere.
Hundreds enter their top outdoor spots
Published 3 July 2020
Nearly 400 students entered this year’s Top Outdoor Spot competition. The judges will begin shortlisting the entries next week. They hope to let the winners and place-getters know soon.
The Commission’s strategic communications and partnerships manager Asher Wilson-Goldman says the COVID-19 pandemic changed the nature of the competition.
Traditionally the competition targets students in classrooms. But for many weeks, students were at home rather than in their classrooms.
“We changed our focus, inviting students to enter from home and to tell us about the outdoor places that they valued while under lockdown.”
The Commission received hundreds of entries from all over New Zealand, including many that tell the stories of things children valued during lockdown.
For instance, many entries came in from English as second language learners who had never been outside their backyard. So the Wellington school students drew their school playground as their favourite outdoor spot.
Other students sent stories and photos of places they wanted to go back to after lockdown. Or stories and images of life during lockdown.
“Stuck at home, many students found the beautiful outdoors in their local neighbourhoods,” says Wilson-Goldman.
The competition runs until tomorrow, 4 July 2020. School children can send in a photo, artwork or writing about their favourite outdoor spot. The top three entries in each category win a prize pack for themselves and/or their school. Prizes for this year’s Top Outdoor Spot Competition come from the generous support we get from prize sponsors Kiwi Camping, Skellerup and Potton & Burton.
Page last updated: 14 December 2023