Scroll down for competition details & entries
The Aro Valley’s iconic streetscapes will feature in a new photographic exhibition by local author and photographer Mark Beehre.
Walking through the Valley opens at the Aro Valley Community Centre on 28 November and will include an on-line competition for everyone to submit their photos inspired by the Valley.

Mark, the author of the 2021 book, A Queer Existence, says the 30 colour photographs are a portrait of a place.

“One of the joys of living in the Valley is the ease of getting around on foot. In the last seven years, I’ve captured in photographs the different faces of the Valley, its streetscapes and houses, on my daily walks. The old wooden buildings are full of personality and their mood changes with the weather, from the introspective silence of an empty street on a rainy day to the warm glow of the afternoon sun welcoming people home at the end of the day.”

Alongside the exhibition, local resident Sven Ericksen, is organising an on-line competition for photographers to submit images of the Valley to be posted on social media and on this website.

“The photographs could be streetscapes, portraits, close-ups of objects, or any other type of image; the only criteria are that they are taken within the Valley and don’t use AI,” Sven says.

“The competition will be open to all ages and there will be separate categories for different age groups, with two categories of prizes in each age group: the first chosen by professional photographers, and the second by popular choice.”

Competition entries will be posted on this website and on our Facebook page. 
Exhibition and competition sponsors
(Click on the sponsor's name to go to their website)

Chief Sponsor Andrea Skews Real Estate
​
​The Garage Project

Rita restaurant
  
Young Shing Chinese Restaurant

Aro Video
Aro Café
Arobake
Shalimar
Verdant
Aro Valley Foodmarket
Vinnies
Paige and Janet Carlyle – enthusiastic supporters of all things Aro
 
Warehouse Stationery Tory St
Gordon Harris
​

Walking in the Valley On-line Photographic Competition

Important Dates:
  • Competition Open Now: Entries are being accepted now and will be displayed on this website, Facebook and Instagram from opening night, Friday 28 November. 
  • Entry Deadline: now extended to Wednesday 4 February 2026
  • Public Voting: 14 December 2025 – 8 February 2026 on Facebook and Instagram. Links to voting sites will be posted here on 14 December and publicised on community social media. Vote by “likes” and “hearts” for as many photos as you like (but don't vote for all of them!). 
  • Prize Announcement: Closing event, 5 – 7 pm, Wednesday 11 February.
Competition entries will be displayed on this website and on social media.
Age Categories:
  • Under 13 years
  • 13-17 years
  • 18 years and over
Prize Structure: Each age category has two types of prizes:
  • Judges' Choice - Selected by professional photographers
  • People's Choice - Voted by the community on social media
Prizes include vouchers and gift certificates from local Aro Valley businesses.
Photo Requirements:
  • Location: Photographs must be taken within or near the Aro Valley, Wellington
  • Format: JPEG preferred
  • Minimum Resolution: 1920 x 1920 pixels
  • Maximum File Size: 10MB per image
  • Submission Limit: Up to 3 photographs per person
  • Important: No AI-generated or AI-manipulated images
Competition Rules:
  • Photographs must be your own original work
  • Basic editing (brightness, contrast, cropping, color correction) is acceptable
  • See the NZ Police guidelines for photographing people in public places. 
  • Respect private property and privacy when photographing. If your photograph includes recognisable people in a situation where they would expect reasonable privacy you need their permission to use the image. If your photograph is a portrait you should have the person's consent in any case. 
  • Participants under 18 must have signed parental consent
Contact Information: For questions about the competition:
How to Submit Your Entry

Step 1: Complete Your Entry Form
Choose the form for your age category:
Step 2: Download and Sign Consent Form (if under 18)

If you're under 18, you MUST also:
  • Download the appropriate parental consent form for Under 13s or 13–17 year olds.
  • Have your parent/guardian read and sign it (ages 13-17: you sign it too!)
  • Scan or photograph the signed form

Step 3: Email Your Photographs
Send your entry to: [email protected] 
Email subject line: Your Name - Walking through the Valley
Include in your email:
  • Your photograph(s) as attachments (JPEG format)
  • Your full name and age category
  • Signed consent form (if under 18) as an attachment
  • Brief description of each photo (optional)

Alternative Submission: You can also drop off your entry at the Aro Valley Community Centre during regular opening hours. Include a printed copy of your entry form, signed consent (if applicable), and photos on a USB drive or printed.

What Happens Next:
  • You'll receive a confirmation email within 2-3 business days
  • Your photos will be posted on our website and social media
  • Public voting for "People's Choice" will take place throughout the competition
  • Winners will be announced at our closing event in January 2026

Questions? Contact Sven Ericksen at [email protected] or 02 11 16 45 58
Entry Forms

Here again are the entry forms for the three categories of entry:

Child entry form (under 13) + parental consent form
Youth entry form (13 – 17) + parental consent form
Adult entry form (18+)

Competition entries