A time capsule containing the artwork of Tauranga children depicting what they believe the city will look like in 25 years time is now sealed underground.

Young artists watch as their work depicting Tauranga in 25 years time is stored safely beneath Bayfair Shopping Centre.

It will be retrieved from its place in the ground by Farmers at the Bayfair Shopping Centre in 25 years time.

The art works compiled were a part of a competition run for schools in the region with more then 200 entries received from primary, intermediate and secondary school age children.

Copies of the artworks are also displayed along the wall to the left of Farmers within the shopping centre so that these visions of Tauranga's future can be enjoyed today.

The winner of the primary school category is Aperehama Turei from Gate Pa School; Kyle Allan from Bethlehem College is the intermediate school category winner; and also from Bethlehem College, Francesca Hawksworth is the secondary category winner.

The three winners each receive a $250 Bayfair Shopping Centre gift card, and for their school, a 42” LG HD plasma television.

Bayfair Shopping Centre marketing manager Nina Rivett thought the quality of entry was impressive.

'It was great to see our younger generation think to the future and portray on paper what they think their hometown will look like in the future,” says Nina.

'We received some very imaginative and fascinating entries and are proud of our winners.

'We have also decided to reward two schools who showed an outstanding contribution to this competition with an HP Notebook.

'For the most imaginative and futuristic interpretation of the theme, one prize goes to Te Kura O Matapihi, and for the greatest contribution in terms of the number of entries, the other is awarded to Arataki School.

'Two digital cameras are awarded to Omanu School for the most innovative style of presentation.”