A Day to Remember: The New Zealand Youth Environmental Competition Awards Ceremony
On 5 October 2025, as spring blossomed around us, the New Zealand Youth Environmental Competition Awards Ceremony opened its doors, with over 60 participants joining. This was a special moment for CCET, as we combined art and environmental awareness, allowing young minds to express their thoughts through the magic of paintbrushes. We were thrilled to receive submissions from all over Auckland, each artwork reflecting their thoughts on the Earth and their boundless imagination.
The ceremony sparkled with the presence of esteemed judges and presenters: Mr. Deng Bangzhen and Ms. Lupo, celebrated artists from China and New Zealand, Dr. Vivien, Senior Community Advisor at Auckland Council, and Fr. Martin. They stood before the young artists, presenting certificates and gifts. In that moment, the applause rained down, nurturing the seeds we had planted that day, waiting patiently for them to grow into towering trees that would one day shelter our Earth.
Youth Division First Prize
Kong Yinuo (12 years old)
Title: Life – Up or Down
Description: If human hands choose to pick up trash, life will continue to grow and thrive. If human hands choose to discard trash, life will face destruction and extinction. Humans cannot survive alone on this planet; only by coexisting with all life can true sustainability be achieved. So, ask yourself now – when the choice is in your hands, how will you decide? Up or down? In this work, the artist cleverly uses various recyclable materials to enhance the expressiveness of the theme. For example: Plastic bags: used to represent litter carelessly discarded by humans, while directly interacting with dolphins (or whales) in the picture, highlighting the danger of marine life being entangled and ingested by plastic. Ropes: representing discarded fishing nets or synthetic fibers, tightly binding marine life, symbolizing the restrictions and damage that human activities inflict on the marine ecosystem. Broken glass or plastic fragments: appearing on the seabed as part of marine debris, emphasizing how human waste pollutes the ecological environment. These recyclable materials not only enhance the realism and impact of the artwork, but also convey a message: if we recycle and reuse them properly, these materials could have avoided ending up in the ocean and becoming life-threatening “killers.”
Youth Division Second Prize
Zhifan (April) Meng (11 years old)
Title: Breathing Behind the Glass
Description: The animals, with timid or bewildered expressions, silently protest the harm that “entertainment” and “possession” inflict on natural life. They belong to the vast wilderness and forests, not to be “trophies” for human amusement. True protection means returning freedom to every life.
Youth Division Second Prize
Breda Liu (9 years old)
Title: Money Above the Forest
Description: A faceless figure—symbolizing all of humanity—is cutting down trees to exchange for money. However, deforestation quickly escalates into cutting down the entire planet. At his feet, a purse overflowing with cash symbolizes how short-term gains are driving long-term environmental destruction.
Child Division First Prize
Olivia Tian (8 years old)
Title: Breathing Turtles in a Polluted Ocean
Description: In my painting, turtles are swimming with breathing tubes because the ocean is severely polluted by trash. Black stains drip from the sky, and cans, plastic, and other garbage float everywhere, even trapping baby turtles! I painted this to express how marine animals are suffering because of human-caused pollution. The turtles don’t look happy because we must clean up the ocean so they can swim freely in clean water again. We must help save the ocean and protect their future!
Child Division Second Prize
Chenghan Jiao (5 years old)
Title: The Dying Ocean
Description: In my painting, the ocean is crying. Dirty pipes discharge poison and smoke, and the fish are grieving, some have even disappeared. I dream that one day the ocean will smile again, and the fish will return to leap, play, and live happily.
Child Division Second Prize
Ethan Tian (6 years old)
Title: Let’s Protect Our Ocean Friends
Description: I drew this picture because we must help the ocean! There’s a big ship and many fish in the picture. Some fish look happy, but some look sad because the water is polluted. There’s also a starfish, a crab, and even a seahorse in the picture! I hope to protect all the animals in the sea so they can live safely and happily. Let’s keep the ocean clean together!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every participant, judge, and supportive parent who joined us for this competition. Together, we witnessed the beautiful intersection of art and environmental consciousness. As we look ahead, we can’t wait to see even more vibrant colors and ideas in the future, painting a bright tomorrow filled with hope for our planet.
