Peter Meecham

We couldn’t do it without them

The sponsors that contribute to the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year season of events provide the funds, networks and resources to make it all happen.

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RealNZ

Family-founded and New Zealand-owned, RealNZ is a leading experiential tourism and conservation group that includes some of New Zealand’s best experiences in its portfolio: Queenstown Jet, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Te Anau Glowworm Caves, TSS Earnslaw, Walter Peak Farm, International Antarctic Centre, Treble Cone Ski Area, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound cruises, as well as excursions in Southern Fiordland and Rakiura-Stewart Island. RealNZ is sponsoring the Photographer of the Year Award, given to the photographer whose portfolio demonstrates skill, consistency and creative insight that makes for quality visual storytelling, and the new Environmental Impact Award, which will go to the image that best expresses the threats to the structure and function of the natural world.

“We believe that to spend some time in nature is to fall in love with it,” says RealNZ’s Sarah Bartholomew. “And we protect what we love. We’ve partnered with NZ Geographic to stand behind the moving beauty and epic stories of New Zealand. The inspirational imagery that emerges from the Photographer of the Year not only asks people to fall in love with New Zealand, but invites questions, tells stories, and challenges people to look closer at reality.”

RealNZ is putting in the real conservation work to protect the native wilderness that makes New Zealand so special, running restoration programmes that encourage habitats for native species to thrive, trapping programmes to give taonga species a chance, and relocation projects to place threatened species in a safer environment. These projects operate in Walter Peak, Cooper Island, Anchor Island, Piopiotahi Milford Sound, and Rakiura Stewart Island.

Sony

With a diverse portfolio of businesses across electronics, music, film, interactive games and telecommunications, Sony is one of the world’s largest technology and entertainment companies and Sony New Zealand Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sony Corporation of Japan. Wherever you are and whatever’s going on, a Sony α or Cyber-shot camera puts precision, style and convenience in your hands to capture the moment in your own unique way.

Sony is sponsoring the Young Photographer of the Year Award, given to the top portfolio of any photographer under the age of 25, and the new Portrait category, which celebrates the time-honoured art of capturing the personality and lived experience of the subject.

Metlifecare

Metlifecare’s vision is simple: to create extraordinary living experiences for the almost 7,000 residents that call one of its 36 retirement villages home.

Metlifecare is sponsoring the new Senior Photographer of the Year Award, which acknowledges the best portfolio of images shot by a photographer aged 60 and over.

“At Metlifecare we are values led: putting people first, making every day better, being bold and living and working sustainably. That’s why we’re proud to support the inaugural Senior Photographer of the Year category to celebrate senior-aged photographers capturing the real New Zealand and all its diversity through authentic, high-quality imagery.”

Resene

Since its inception in 1946 and its introduction of waterborne paint to a market starved of quality products in the 1950s, the Resene Group has developed a range of paint and specialist coating products for residential and commercial buildings, marine, heavy industrial and automotive use.

Resene is sponsoring the Landscape Category, which showcases the mountains, wetlands, coasts and plains of New Zealand, the Built Environment Category, which celebrates the way our cities, towns and structures reflect who we are as a society, and the Colour Award, which recognises one image from all entries where colour contributes most to its success.

Electric Kiwi 

It started with three schoolmates from Whakatāne who wanted to improve the power industry for customers. Harnessing the data from smart meters led to innovations like the Hour of Power, and the MoveMaster plan and the company is now serving over 80,000 Kiwis, who have collectively saved over $30 million. In 2022, the company expanded into the broadband market, with the same focus on fairness and simplicity, and it’s not stopping there.

Electric Kiwi is sponsoring the Wildlife Category, which showcases the best images of New Zealand’s unique fauna, and the new Mobile Award, which recognises the best imagery shot on a mobile device.

“The Electric Kiwi brand has always been about expressing ourselves authentically – we invest our time in crafting stories and how we convey them through the eyes of Kiwis,” says digital marketing manager Gia Martinez. “We’ve partnered with New Zealand Geographic to support passionate Kiwis who narrate their stories through Wildlife and Mobile photography.”

 

Ockham Residential

Ockham has been designing, building and selling apartments in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland since 2009 and prides itself on making quality homes that stand the test of time and are as beautiful as the landscapes they sit within.

Ockham sponsors the People’s Choice Award, which asks the public to choose their favourite images from among all the finalists. Last year, over 28,000 votes were cast.

“Critical thought and enquiry – and extending the joy of thinking and learning to all New Zealanders – is at the heart of the Ockham ethos,” says Peter Malcouronne, Ockham’s head of content and communications. “We’re fortunate to work alongside some remarkable organisations who contribute mightily to Aotearoa’s cultural life. Photography plays an essential role when it comes to telling the stories of our land, our wildlife and our people and we love that the event has created a space to allow new photographers to get recognition for their work, and to support and celebrate existing photographers.”

Pansonic Lumix

Lumix is a brand that is synonymous with high-quality digital cameras. Produced by the Japanese multinational corporation, Panasonic, Lumix cameras are renowned for their exceptional image quality, precision lenses, and advanced technology.

One of the key features of Lumix cameras is their advanced lenses. Panasonic has been manufacturing lenses for over 50 years and has integrated this expertise into Lumix cameras. Lumix cameras use Leica lenses, which are known for their high-quality optics, producing images with exceptional sharpness, colour accuracy, and contrast. This makes Lumix cameras ideal for capturing stunning images of any subject, from landscapes to portraits.

Lumix sponsors the Society Category, which celebrates the traditions and relationships of all New Zealanders and captures our identity.

“Through Lumix, we’re a dedicated member of the photographic community and we love to see New Zealand and its people reflected back at us when we see the entries into the society category at Photographer of the Year, which we’ve sponsored for a number of years,” says Andrew Reid. “Reliability and trust are what we’re all about and people can count on New Zealand Geographic for that as well, so it’s a great partnership.”

The North Face

In 1966, two young hiking enthusiasts, tired of scavenging for quality gear, resolved to follow their passions and founded a mountaineering retail store in the North Beach neighbourhood of San Francisco. Named after the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain, The North Face was born, quickly earning a loyal following amongst athletes, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Now, with over 50 years of experience and a rich history of expeditions to some of the most far-flung, largely untouched corners of the globe, the brand delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. As part of its mission to ‘enable exploration for all’ it also offers support through its Explore Fund and Adventure Grant, removing barriers to the outdoors.

The North Face is sponsoring the Adventure Category, which asks photographers to tell the story of their outdoor adventures in Aotearoa.

“Exploration is our oxygen, it shapes who we are, what we stand for, and what we strive for,” says Sarah Hunt. “The Adventure Category embodies our mission to inspire people to push their limits, to experience the thrill of the unknown, and to feed their soul. We’re excited to be supporting NZ Geographic’s Photographer of the Year awards, and to be celebrating the inspiring adventures of Kiwis across our country’s incredible landscapes.”

Britomart

Britomart’s nine blocks in central Auckland make up a dynamic and diverse business community populated by some of the country’s most innovative enterprises. It’s also home bold and evocative public artworks, as well as an ever-changing array of temporary exhibitions that enrich the neighbourhood’s lively sense of place. Last year’s Photographer of the Year exhibition attracted over 320,000 people and this year’s is set to be even bigger.

Britomart is our exhibition partner and is also sponsoring the Photo Story category, awarded to a set of four to six images that work together to tell a story in an insightful way.