Liam Platt did a bit of Google research before putting pen to paper for an art competition - and he's come up all the richer for it.
The 10-year-old from Ponsonby Primary school won his school - and himself - an early Christmas present in the process.
Liam's doodle was chosen from around 2500 as overall winner in the Doodle for Google competition entered by students from all over New Zealand. Google will feature Liam's design on its homepage for one day in February next year.
Liam's doodle - which is more of an artwork than a doodle - was chosen by the original Google doodler Dennis Hwang.
Ponsonby Primary principal Anne Malcolm describes her Year 6 pupil's win as "huge".
"Not only did he win $10,000 for the school, he also won us a smartboard, which is an interactive whiteboard, plus a huge Apple computer for himself," Mrs Malcolm says, adding that the $10,000 will go towards Photoshop software, a camera and a computer station for student design work.
Liam says he recently won another art competition so he was inspired to try his hand at a second. The keen skateboarder and soccer player started working on his ideas with his teacher and continued from home. "I searched on the internet for other Google designs and searched for New Zealand culture," he says. "I also used the images on $1 and 10c coins for inspiration.
"I was sort of amazed when I won."
His drawing represents his wish for an unpolluted environment and the protection of the kiwi bird.
His mother, Debbie Platt, says Liam spent about a week after school doing the doodle and is an avid artist.
Liam won a Mac Book Pro and art supplies. His doodle and those of the three other age-group winners are on show in the Auckland Art Gallery through November. The drawings have also been printed on T-shirts.