More than 800 students from primary schools around Tauranga participated in the ‘I am Hope’ colouring competition during Gumboot Friday organized by Tauranga Airport.

“We think this is a great cause and Tauranga Airport wants to contribute to helping the youth of the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand. That’s why we organised this competition which involves all the local primary schools,” says Tauranga Airport operation manager, Chris Walters.

810 gumboot paintings from the kids' are displayed in the airport terminal during the day. To choose the winners, Tauranga Airport invites one of the most iconic New Zealand contemporary artists to select three paintings from each category.

Graham Hoete Mr G, selecting the winners of the Gumboot Friday Colouring competition at Tauranga Airport.

“We have divided the paintings into three different year groups, years one to two, three to four, and five to six and we have invited Mr G. Graham Hoete to select some of them to give them a prize,”  says Chris.

Supporting this cause by being the judge at the Tauranga Airport colouring competition is a privilege says Mr G. “This is a positive, uplifting and hope-based competition. Arts are all about expression, and at the end of the day all kids here are winners.”

While the paintings are displayed at the airport terminal, there will also be different gumboot donation zones on site. “People are invited to go the extra mile for the youth's mental health and support,” says Tauranga Airport operation manager, Chris Walters.

Congratulations to all the winners and are as follows.

Year 1-2 :   1st -Bowie Jenkin - Omanu primary

                 2nd -Van - Papamoa Primary

                 3rd -Willow Giles - Papamoa Primary

Year 3-4 :  1st -Taj Openlander - Omanu primary

                  2nd -Harriet Street - Tauranga primary 

                  3rd -Sianna - Papamoa primary

Year 5-6 :  1st -Lilab Billet - Papamoa primary 

                  2nd -Kaydee Burges - Papamoa primary       

                  3rd -Erryle Barcena - Manunui school

To contribute during the Gumboot Friday and help support this cause visit: https://www.gumbootfriday.org.nz/donate