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TERMS & CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions apply to all entries.
1. Eligible Photographers
Entries into any of the main categories are open to any individual photographer from New Zealand. Entrants under the age of 18 must also submit a signed Parent/Guardian consent form found here: https://irisawards.com/nzapa/u18-permission to confirm they have permission to enter, and to agree to be bound by these Rules. Under 18 is considered an entry who is 17years of age or younger on 1st August 2026.
2. Entry Eligibility
In addition to the Global Rules and Category Rules:
Entries must be submitted without watermarks or other features that would identify the entrant.
Entrants should keep RAW files of images and all elements used. In the event that the Organiser or judges query the eligibility of an entry, entrants will be required to provide documentary evidence (e.g. RAW image files, digi- tal files, source records for all elements used in images, property and model releases, consents, correspondence, records, negatives etc) to demonstrate the eligibility of the entry. Entrants shall have 48 hours to produce such evidence.
Entries must be:
Submitted electronically on the Awards website https://nzipp.awardsplatform.com and adhere to any technical specifications notified on that website;
Accompanied by the entrant’s full name(s), physical address, email address and phone number; and
Submitted no later than 11:59pm (New Zealand Standard Time) on the deadline for entries specified by the Organisers. Entries will not be accepted after this date.
3. Awards Categories
The Awards categories are at the Organisers’ discretion and may be varied without notice at any stage prior to judging.
4. Use of Entries
Entrants (or copyright owners who permit entries to the Awards) retain copyright to their entries but agree un- conditionally and irrevocably that entries may be used in whole or in part by the Organisers and their sponsors, free of charge, for promotion or discussion in connection with the Awards, including on the ‘past competitions’ webpage of the Awards website as a public record.
Entrants agree to their images being shared via social media and digital channels from the submissions gallery, by the Organisers, competition sponsors, and gallery viewers.
Entrants agree submitted material may be cropped slightly if needed for layout purposes and that such altered images may be credited to them.
Notwithstanding these Rules, entrants accept that the Organisers and sponsors have no obligation to display, promote or publish any entry in any way.
5. Entrant Warranties
By entering the Awards, entrants warrant that:
They are the sole creator and owner of their entry, and they are either the legal copyright holder or have per- mission from the copyright holder.
All content in their entries is original and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party. Plagiarism, either intentionally or unintentionally, is not acceptable and any entry deemed by the Organisers or judges to be plagiarism will be disqualified.
If the image contains any identifiable persons, then the entrant has obtained consent (from all identifiable persons) to enter the image into the Awards, and for the image to be used and published as described in the Rules.
Entrants accept that the Organisers may, in their sole opinion and at their sole discretion, disqualify any entry they deem unsuitable, inappropriate or against the values of the awards in terms of content, or otherwise does not fit the eligibility criteria.
6. Discretion of Organisers and Judges
The Organisers retain an absolute discretion to, without reason or refund: Disqualify an entrant/entry from the Awards;
Admit/exclude/remove entries to the Awards;
Bar any entrant from submitting further entries (including in future Awards); Refuse to judge an entry;
Change the competition dates, including entry, judgment and ceremony dates;
Amend, vary, extend or discontinue the Awards and/or these Rules at any stage, for any reason; Retrospectively disqualify an entrant/entry and/or strike off an award where an entry or entrant is later found to be in breach of these Rules, and require the entrant to return any awards or prizes previously conferred.
Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. No refunds will be given for disqualified entries.
7. Entry Fees
Entry fees and prizes are quoted in NZ dollars. The Organisers do not have any liability for any bank fees and charges or currency conversion rates. Entries are only valid upon receiving payment in full of the entry fee as specified. Entry fees are non-refundable except as may be provided by the Organisers at their discretion.
8. Prizes
Prizes are not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Special conditions may apply to non-cash prizes, e.g. they may be subject to availability. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to provide the prizes to the Awards winners. Sponsors retain the right to substitute prizes for an item or items of similar value.
9. Privacy and Contact Information
The Organisers undertake to hold your personal information securely, in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. All contact details provided may be used from time-to-time by the Organisers for communications related to the Awards or NZIPP. All other personal information will be kept confidential and used solely by NZIPP for the purposes of the Awards, unless demanded and required under the laws of New Zealand. Entrants can request access to and correction of their details at any time. Entrants may unsubscribe at any time from NZIPP’s email database.
10. Intellectual Property Rights Reserved
All rights related to the name “NZIPP”, “New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography”, “New Zealand Amateur Photography Awards” and associated images, branding, trademarks and all intellectual property are exclusively owned by the Organisers, and may not be used without the express written permission of the Organiser’s Executive Director.
11. Liability and Indemnities
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organisers (including its judges, officers, executive members, employ- ees, contractors and advisors) and Awards sponsors shall not be liable for any claim, loss, injury, liability, expense or damage suffered by the entrant(s) or any third party whatsoever, whether indirectly or directly, howsoever arising, whether from the negligence of the Organisers, by cancellations, terminations, disqualifications, modifications, variations, or through the failure or omission on the part of Organisers to comply with obligations under these Rules, or arising by operation of law, or otherwise.
In the event that the Organisers (including its judges, officers, executive members, employees, contractors and advisors) and Awards sponsors are liable for any claim, loss, injury, liability, expense or damage that cannot be validly excluded by these Rules, then their aggregate liability shall not exceed the entry fee (if any) actually paid by the entrant to enter the Awards.
The Organisers (including its judges, officers, executive members, employees, contractors and advisors) and Awards sponsors:
Will not be responsible for the content/editorial control for entries and associated information submitted by entrants, including the legality and/or veracity of that information; and
Do not make any claims or warranties as to the ownership of copyright or intellectual property of the entries, and will assume no liability for entries accused of plagiarism, copyright issues, intellectual property rights issues, privacy issues or contractual disputes.
By entering, entrants:
Warrant that they have the legal standing and relevant permissions to make the commitments required by these Rules and the general nature of the Awards; and
Agree to indemnify the Organisers (including its judges, officers, executive members, employees, contractors and advisors) and Awards sponsors for any claim, loss, injury, liability, expense or damage arising from or relating to their entry(ies) in the Awards, any breach of these Rules or the entrant’s acts or omissions.
12. Governing Law
The laws of New Zealand exclusively apply to these Rules and your participation in the Awards. You irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts.
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