ENTRY VETTING PROCESS

• Where the Honours Council determines that an entry does not comply with the intent of the rules and the spirit of the awards, the entry and/or entrant will be disqualified. The Honours Council reserves the right to request all working files in order to verify compliance with the rules; failure to submit the requested files will lead to disqualification.

• Entry vetting begins online as soon as entries open.

• Due to time constraints, comprehensive image reviews are not always feasible leading up to the judging. Some times issues come to light later. The Honours Council reserves the right to perform further entry vetting, and/ or start an investigation, retrospectively. This is not limited to the year of entry.

• In the case of any disqualification, the Honours Council’s decision is final.

• Disqualified entries can not be re-entered in future IRIS Awards.

In the event of an entry and/or entrant disqualification any, or all, of the following penalties may apply:

• Awards issued will be revoked, and the entrant is required to return to the NZIPP within 10 working days of notification all awards, trophies, certificates, Honours Distinctions, gongs, ribbons and gold bars received as a direct result of the awards issued.

• The entrant will be required to repay any respective prize money or return any prizes received within 10 working days of the disqualification notice.

• The entrant is ineligible for any refund associated with a disqualification.

• Disqualified entries will be removed from all NZIPP media and online forums, and where deemed necessary, the award’s sponsor will be notified.

• The entrant will be required to immediately remove all website and social media content, together with any print or other materials (including in any printed portfolios, studios or any other locations) which make reference to NZIPP or the Iris Awards in relation to disqualified entries.

• Up to five merit points per disqualified entry may be deducted from any accrued Distinction merit points total.

This applies to NZIPP members and members of reciprocal rights organisations.

• Dependent on the severity of the case, an entrant’s entire Iris Award submission may be disqualified. This is not limited to the year of initial entry disqualification.

• The entrant may be subject to compulsory image scrutinising with entering future awards.

• The Honours Council may impose an entry stand-down period or a lifetime ban from entering the awards.

• The entrant may be required to pay NZIPP’s legal and associated costs as a result of any investigation.

• NZIPP membership may be revoked.

The NZIPP Honours Council agrees to take all reasonable steps to ensure entries presented to the judges comply with all rules and conditions of entry, however neither the NZIPP Honours Council nor NZIPP are responsible or liable should it later be determined that an entrant has breached entry rules.