Lakes photo comp winner announced
For immediate release: 23 May 2014
Whakatane’s Fleur Baxter has been named the winner of the Our Lakes Photo Competition run by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes
Programme.
The programme is a partnership between Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua District Council and Te Arawa Lakes
Trust.
The Our Lakes Photo Competition was held to showcase all the activities that are enjoyed on and around the Rotorua Te
Arawa Lakes.
Fleur’s photo showing her daughter and niece jumping into Lake Tarawera was one of seven photos shortlisted and was
ultimately chosen due to how it drew the viewer into the action.
“I took the photo on one of the days we came over to enjoy the lakes over summer. We love coming to the lakes and have
already booked our accommodation to stay at Lake Tarawera next summer,” Fleur said.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council General Manager Natural Resource Operations, Warwick Murray said it took some time to
shortlist the seven entries from the 120 received.
“We were sent some fantastic photos showing everything from fishing, to swimming, skiing, boating and people just
enjoying the fantastic scenery our lakes offer. Staff from the partner agencies selected seven photos to be sent to the
judges,” he said.
The Waiariki Institute of Technology photography class were delighted to be the judges and pick the winner.
Students of the class said being judges was a great experience and helped them use what they have learned in the class.
“We chose Fleur’s photo because it drew the viewer into the action. It feels like you are a participant as opposed to an
observer. Technically the photo exhibits great use of shutter speed – capturing mid-flight without blur is no easy task.
Overall the photo showed our interaction and connection with the lakes.”
As competition winner Fleur won an iPad mini.
A selection of the photos submitted can be viewed on www.rotorulakes.co.nz.
About the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme
• The programme is a partnership between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional
Council
• The Government is contributing $72m to implement the programme, half the total cost of $144 million. The rest is being
funded jointly by the Rotorua District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
• The programme aims to restore four priority lakes – Rotorua, Rotoiti, Ōkāreka and Rotoehu and includes both in-lake
and on-land measures to reduce the amount of nutrients which are entering the lakes and affecting water quality.
• Interventions are also underway in other lakes in the Rotorua district.
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