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ENTRY VETTING PROCESS

Where the NZIPP 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 NZIPP Honours Council reserves the right to request Original Capture Files and all working files 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. Sometimes issues come to light later. The Honours Council reserves the right to perform fur- ther entry vetting, and/or start an investigation, retrospectively. This is not limited to the year of entry. In the case of disqualification, the Honours Council’s decision is final.
Disqualified entries cannot be re-entered in future New Zealand Amateur Photography 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 of all awards, trophies, certificates 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 NZ Amatuer Photography Awards in relation to disqualified entries.
  • Depending on the severity of the case, an entrant’s entire NZ Amateur Photography Awards sub- mission 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.

 

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THE JUDGING PROCESS

 

All entries will be scored during an anonymous judging round.

Once entries close, category images will be available to five judges who give a score from 0-100 for each image. An average score is then given to the image.

• In all categories, judges will be looking for good camera and post-production technique; visual impact, originality, connection and/or storytelling.
• The top 25 scoring entries from each category will go through to a live feedback round on Wednesday 5th August 2026.
• Entrants whose images do not go through to the live feedback round will be given a final score. No comment will be given – unless the written feedback option was purchased during entry submission.
• All score will be released on 6th August 2026 from 9am and will be available by logging into the entry portal https://nzipp.awardsplatform.com.
• Those entrants whose entry(ies) have been successful in making it to the Live Feedback Round will be notified by 20 July 2026. They’ll be welcome to attend the Live Feedback Round in person or join our livestream on YouTube.

• Awards from the NZ Amateur Photography awards do not earn Merit points towards NZIPP Distinctions.

 

LIVE FEEDBACK ROUND

 

The Top 25 scoring entries in each category will go through to a Live Feedback Round on Wednesday 5 August 2026 at Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham St South, Christchurch.

These sessions will be open to the public and also live-streamed on NZIPP’s YouTube channel.

Feedback is presented live by panels of three respected judges.

A Panel Chair, who in turn is overseen by the NZIPP Honours Council, facilitates the live feedback session.

For images that scored in the Top 25 (but not in the Top 10): An entry’s score and placing within the category will be announced. A member of the panel will provide constructive feedback to the entrant.

The top 10 images: will be presented in a random order and the image’s score will not yet be revealed. A member of the panel will provide constructive feedback to the entrant. The announcement of the Top 10 rankings will be revealed on the NZAPA social media channels from 9am Thursday 6th August 2026.

 

AWARD LEVELS

Images that score 59 or below are not awarded.

  • A score of 60-69 receives the award of Commended
  • A score of 70-79 receives the award of Highly Commended
  • A score of 80-84 receives the award of Silver
  • A score of 85-89 receives the award of Silver with Merit
  • A score of 90-94 receives the award of Gold
  • A score of 95-100 receives the award of Gold with Excellence

 

CATEGORY WINNERS

Category winners will be the entrant from each category with the highest score. Should there be more than one entry with the highest score in that category, a panel of five judges will choose the winning image in a closed forum discussion.

Category winners will be announced live from 5pm Wednesday 5th August 2026 following the Top 25 Live Feedback Round in person at The Majestic on Durham as well as live streamed on the NZIPP YouTube Channel.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Category Winners will receive:

 

NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR WINNER

To be a finalist for New Zealand Amateur Photographer of the Year, the entrant must have entered at least 3 images (across one or more categories).
The top 3 entrants with the highest aggregate scores from their top 3 images will go into a final round of judging. New Zealand Amateur Photographer of the Year Finalists will be announced live at the conclusion of the Category Winner announcements – from 5pm Wednesday 5 August 2026.

A panel of five judges will meet in a closed forum to vote for one winner – the 2026 New Zealand Amateur Photographer of the Year – that best represents “What the judges are looking for” – good camera and post-production technique; visual impact and/or storytelling and originality.

The winner of the New Zealand Amateur Photographer of the Year will be announced live at the Gala Awards Evening on Sunday 9th August 2026 from 5:15pm at Majestic on Durham – 189 Durham Street. You can purchase tickets here NOW.

The winner will receive:

JOIN US IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS AUGUST!

 

Come and watch the live judging of the 2026 Iris Awards in-person or the live feedback round of the New Zealand Amateur Photography Awards, and stick around for the New Zealand Photography Show - Work/Shop 2026 - a two-day event  offering inspiration, education, networking, and so much more! Purchasing a ticket will also get you in the draw to win an EPIC prize! Check out all the details here: https://nzphotoshow.co.nz/

Get yourself onto a masterclass on Sunday to fully immerse yourself in a specialised area of interest, and finish off the week at the 2026 NZIPP Gala Awards Evening sponsored by CRK and Ilford, to celebrate the success from the Iris Awards and the New Zealand Amateur Awards. https://nzphotoshow.co.nz/product/gala-awards-evening/

IMPORTANT DATES FOR NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR AWARDS

ONLINE ENTRIES OPEN: 9am Monday 25th May 2026 (NZST)

ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE: 11.59pm Sunday 21st June 2026 (NZST)

LIVE FEEDBACK ROUND: From 8am Wednesday 5th August 2026 (NZST)

LIVE FEEDBACK VENUE: Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham St South, Christchurch. 

CATEGORY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: Approx. 5pm Wednesday 5th August 2026, VENUE: TBC

NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT: At the Gala Awards Evening, 5:15pm Sunday 9th August 2026. Venue: Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham St South, Christchurch; Theme: Golden Hour. A ticket only event. Click here to purchase tickets NOW

ENTRANTS SCORES RELEASED:  Thursday 6th August 2026 from 9am

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