The New Zealand Herald Summer Holiday Photo Competition brought about 2000 entries via email and Instagram this year.
The standard definitely improves every year, which makes life pleasingly difficult for the judges: after some serious deliberation, they pared the field back to just 10 of the very best from which the winning three were then selected.
This year's winner is Jane Dunn for a cracking shot of her nephew Oliver Gowans surfing at Stanmore Bay.
Jane says, "He was just messing around on a surfboard on Boxing Day. I wouldn't normally enter these sorts of competitions, but my brother (Oliver's father) suggested I send the picture."
The picture embodies how we love to spend our holidays: at the beach, being adventurous and having a great time. The timing, composition and lighting on this shot are outstanding and you can't help but smile when you view it.