Tairāwhiti rivers the focus of Gisborne photo competition

A visitor to Gisborne captures a river scene for Heritage Tairāwhiti’s photo competition, Tairāwhiti Rivers, which runs to November 14. Photo / John Pennington

Look out for photographers of all ages roaming the sides of Tairāwhiti rivers over the next few months as they endeavour to capture a prize-winning entry in Heritage Tairāwhiti’s photo competition.

As part of the organisation’s plan to tell stories of people and place around the district, the Tairāwhiti Rivers Photo Competition provides an opportunity to record images of today for tomorrow while highlighting the role rivers play in people’s lives.

In a statement, Heritage Tairāwhiti deputy chair Sheridan Gundry said the competition recognised the importance of photography in telling the evolving stories of Gisborne’s development and the photographers who made it happen.

“Since late last year, we have been exhibiting a selection of Taruheru River photographs in our Centre for Heritage mainly from early photographer, brewer and first mayor William Crawford.

“More recently we have been conducting free tours of the lower Taruheru. These have been well-attended and will continue throughout the year on the last Saturday of the month.

“The Crawford photographs are an absolute treasure trove, as is the photography collection at Tairāwhiti Museum,” Gundry said. “Subsequent collections created by various photographers employed by The Gisborne Herald have added to this enormous resource.

“Our competition focuses on the rivers of Tairāwhiti, including the Waipaoa, Taruheru, Waimatā, Tūranganui, Ūawa and the Waiapu. Photos could depict a river’s current state, its use for industry or recreation, its bird or human life, its natural environment or heritage.

“We have two categories: Open, for photographers 18 years and over; and School-age.”

There were “attractive prizes” too: “First prizes being $500 for the Open and $300 for the School-age – thanks to sponsorship from Eastland Port, Rochdale Advisory Group and Personality Framers.”

The competition will culminate in an exhibition of prize-winners at Heritage Tairāwhiti’s Centre for Heritage in early December. Entries close on Friday, November 14.

Entry forms are available at the library, through schools, Gisborne Camera Club and by emailing info@hpt.org.nz