We were blown away by all of the fantastic works of art sent in from around Aotearoa, New Zealand! Our Seaweek Ocean-Inspired Art Competition concluded with over 70 individual entries bursting with creativity, love and concern for the ocean and marine life. Thank you for sharing all of this incredible work with our Seaweek community! 

Please enjoy the gallery. Sea Stars are age 10 and under, Sea Lions are age 11 and over.

Prize Pack Winners

Sea Stars 

“inspired by fish and the beauty of sea animals” -Jayen Hira

“Be aware of water pollution, as many species of sea life, such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal, North Atlantic Right Whale, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, and many others, are endangered and in need of help. My artwork reflects the harmful effects of pollution, waste, and plastic in the ocean on these aquatic creatures. We must come together to protect and save these incredible marine lives.” -Dina Feng

“I didn’t like snorkelling until the seaweek EMR events. Where I snorkelled for almost an hour and loved it!  It was fun to learn about the different marine species and try to ID them from the chart.  Now I really want to look after the sea and encourage family and friends and classmates to as well.” -Mia Shani

Sea Lions 

“My artwork reflects the devastating effects of pollution washed up on our shores. I chose to depict a whale, a symbol of these majestic creatures that are now on the brink of extinction due to environmental harm. This visual serves as a call to action, urging us to protect them and their fragile habitats. Surrounding the whale, the phrase “Stop Polluting the Sea!!!” is written in multiple languages—English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Māori, French, Latin, Hindi, Russian, and Thai—emphasizing the global urgency of this issue. In creating this piece, I used recycled materials, carefully gluing them onto the paper, to not only express my message but also embody the importance of reusing and minimizing waste.” -Emma Ximing Wei

“This picture shows that when you litter all the amazing sea creatures will die. The girl in the painting is sitting on a floatie, and looks like she doesn’t know all the amazing creatures moving under her. This picture also represents how you might not always see the full picture so you don’t go assuming things are shallow when actually the situation is really deep, like the ocean.” -Cassie Koon

“As a jellyfish pulsates gently through the water, I fall into a trance, breathing in sync with its slow, hypnotic movement. In those moments, the ocean is a part of me, essential to my very being.” - Jo Machin

Honourable Mention 

Sea Stars

“My life has been AMAZING just because I have been in our INCREDIBLE ocean” -Eleanor Zhang

Sea Lions

“It's about understanding the interconnectedness of all living things and recognising that our actions on land impact the sea” -Rionne Anderson

“My artwork shows the harmony between humans and the ocean, showing how they both can appreciate each other. A young artist sits inside a glass jar sketching away, while many ocean dwellers watch with curiosity. The jar symbolizes how people admire the ocean, just as marine life observes us in return. It depicts the connections between humans and underwater life, reminding us to treat the ocean and its creatures with respect. Art connects us as humans, but it also connects us with our environment. This piece is a reminder that the ocean is not just something to admire, but something to protect — because it’s a world just as magical as our own!” -Saranya Sarkar

Full Gallery 

Sea Stars

“We must all take action to protect the ocean for future generations! No Rubbish!” -Iris Wang

“Do not litter in the Ocean, the water is green, see the animals are calling for help!” - Isabella Lin

“I love the ocean because I have so much fun splashing around with my sister and friends when we visit the beach. I love that fish and dolphins and whales all swim in the ocean too but I’m glad they don’t swim near me in the beach. I sometimes collect shells and mummy tells me that little creatures used them as their homes. That’s what I love about the ocean.” -Scarlett Penny

“My picture is about two sea turtles that are from different places. The first one lives in a non-polluted ocean with coral growing. The second turtle is living in a polluted ocean where there is rubbish on the sea bed, and the turtle its self is trapped in a net. Right now, some places are like where the first turtle lives, clean and clear, but some places are like where the second turtle lives, polluted. We have to save the ocean and stop it from turning into the sea where the second turtle lives in.” -Olivia Wei

“I drew this piece ‘Under the Sea Adventure’ because under the sea, there are lots of extraordinary things like seaweed, coral, seashells and many, many more. There are also animals like turtles, fish and jellyfish. Also, parts of the ocean are different. The ground, water and surface are all different parts of the ocean. The ground is where the coral grow and shells land. The water is where the fish swim and jellyfish float, and the surface is where the boats bob and marine mammals like dolphins and whales get air.” -Jasmine Liu

“I love the sea and the beach. I always enjoy going and playing there all the time, especially collecting shells and rocks with mummy and daddy. There are so many seagulls around as well. My art is about how beautiful the ocean is and me standing near the sea and enjoying my day.” -Ariyah Prasad

 

Sea Lions

“The ocean is an incredible taonga (treasure) that sustains life on Earth.” -Ava Monrad

“I decided to draw a picture of a Marine Iguana, because it is the only type of lizard that spends lots of time in the sea. It makes the Marine Iguanas very unique. This species is vulnerable mostly because of climate change. We need to protect our planet, for if we don't, then there will be no more lizards in the sea.” - Ethan Wang

“Jellyfish have always fascinated me—the way they drift so effortlessly through the water, glowing and pulsing like a living artwork. There’s something almost hypnotic about their movement, a reminder of how beautiful and mysterious the ocean truly is. I wanted to capture that beauty in this work, not just to share my love for these incredible creatures, but also to inspire others to care more about protecting the ocean. Our waters are home to so many fragile, awe-inspiring life forms, and it’s up to us to make sure they thrive for generations to come.” - Doris Dong

“It's about respecting the mauri (life force) of the ocean, appreciating its beauty, and taking responsibility for its well-being.” -Lanē Nortman

"To me, protecting the ocean means being a kaitiaki (guardian) of our planet's most vital resource” -Slyvie Redford

“My artwork holds a deep personal significance for me, it represents the imperfection of the ocean but how it still all comes together as a whole and the mix of colours. It also embodies my passion for the sea and highlights the beauty and fragility of marine life. Each brushstroke reflects my connection to the ocean, capturing its vibrant colors and dynamic movement. Through this piece, I aim to inspire others to appreciate and protect our oceans, reminding them of the vital role they play in our ecosystem. It’s a heartfelt expression of love for the water, the creatures within it, and the shared responsibility we have to preserve its wonders for future generations. This work serves as a call to action, inviting others to celebrate and safeguard the ocean that gives us so much.” - Chloe Campbell

“My artwork is all about what a healthy ecosystem should look like, the moana is filled with lively creatures that thrive to survive. We need to stop harming our moana by not littering and making sure that we are being tidy kiwis every day.” - Emma Wei

“By making conscious choices, we can ensure that future generations will inherit a healthy, thriving marine environment” -Toby Burgess

We also received images of some beautiful group artwork. We love these displays of the power of collaboration and cooperation to express connection to the sea. 

The Moheau Environment Group worked with the students at Coromandel Area School to create a mascot for Sea Week using recycled junk: They created a giant stingray 'Awa' 

The Firth Primary School year 3/4 class discussed how everyone’s lives impact our environment and discussed they can do to make a difference, then used recycled materials including bottle lids, bubble wrap, egg cartons, bottles and cardboard to create texture and movement in these beautiful pieces.

 

The Tairua Library spent two fun-filled weeks celebrating Seaweek and doing awesome educational programmes, collaborative art and displays including collages using collected recycled materials, shells and more creating their big sea scape, taniwha and little canvas.

With the Appleby Playcentre, Katy, Bethany, Carla, Amelia rose, Loretta, Scarlett, Elias, Lincoln, Ollie, Connor, Lenna and Maggie created this lovely collaborative work while talking about all the things we love about the ocean and how we help look after it as well as where all of the creatures are found.

Congratulations to the winners, your work is stunning and your messages are inspiring. We are truly grateful to each artist for sharing your beautiful work and messages with us this Seaweek. We can't wait to see what you do in the future!  

Finally, many thanks to our excellent guest judges from Raft Studio and...