Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
The Estuary Art and Ecology Awards are Aotearoa’s only annual contemporary art awards with ecology at the core. Artists are invited to research and respond to the Tāmaki Estuary, explore the ecological value of this vital waterway, and encourage action against its pollution. Finalists will be exhibited in the Malcolm Smith Gallery at UXBRIDGE Arts and Culture and winning artworks will be intelligent and innovative responses to ecology in the field of contemporary art.
About the Tāmaki Estuary
The Tāmaki Estuary is a vital 15-kilometre-long waterway on the eastern edge of Tāmaki Makaurau, where freshwater from the land meets the saltwater of the Hauraki Gulf. Historically a key transport route for Māori, it is now a crucial space for urban recreation and wildlife. The estuary’s mix of mangrove forests and mudflats provides an important habitat for native birdlife. While it faces environmental pressures from urbanisation, it remains a beloved corridor for walking, boating, and connecting with nature in the heart of the city.
Tāmaki Estuary Direct Action Fund
The aim of the Tāmaki Estuary Direct Action Fund is provide direct financial support to an organisation, group, or individual dedicated to supporting the Tāmaki Estuary. Established in 2025 by judge Shannon Novak, a donation box is made available to the public for the duration of the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards each year. Future judges can select who the donations go to. For 2025 the inaugural recipient of the Tāmaki Estuary Direct Action Fund was the Tāmaki Estuary Protection Society (TEPS).
The 20th anniversary of the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
2026 marks a significant milestone: the 20th Anniversary of the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards. For two decades, this nationally recognised platform has fostered a crucial dialogue between art and science, encouraging artists to delve deep into the ecological significance and fragile beauty of the Tāmaki Estuary. This anniversary celebration will be a powerful reflection on our journey and a look toward the future. We will honour the legacy of the hundreds of artists who have contributed to this conversation, while showcasing a new generation of works that respond to the pressing environmental questions of our time. It will be a landmark exhibition that celebrates two decades of artistic excellence and our shared commitment, as kaitiaki, to the health of these precious waterways.
Credit: UXBRIDGE
Estuary Art and Ecology Awards, 2019
Current exhibition
The 19th Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Lucy Boermans, sitting-with
Judge: Shannon Novak Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.
19th Estuary Art and Ecology Awards, installation shot
Image credit: Tatiana Harper Photography.
Credit: Tatiana Harper
Estuary Art and Ecology Awards, 2025
19th Estuary Art and Ecology Awards, installation shot
Image credit: Tatiana Harper Photography
Second Place Winner Rose Lee, Nasty Temper detail
Image credit: Tatiana Harper photography
Third Place Winner Saskia Eliane Van Dijk speaking at the In Conversation with Estuary Artists public programme
Image credit: Leah Breach
First Place Winner Lucy Boermans, sitting-with
Image credit: Tatiana Harper.
Past Exhibitions
2024: 18th Annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Matthew Dowman, Tūna
Judge: Annette Lees Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.
2023: 17th Annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Lisa Bate, Suspended Deposits
Judge: Benjamin Work Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.
2022: 16th Annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Wesley John Fourie, Slow Ride (I followed you into the sea)
Judge: Francis McWhannell Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.
2021: 15th Annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Mā Te Huruhuru Artists, Tāhuna Tōrea Rock Pool
Judge: Francis McWhannell Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.
2020: 14th Annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards
Winner: Kate van der Drift, First Quarter Moon to Full Moon
Judge: Monique Jansen Sponsors: Howick Local Board (Auckland Council), Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris.