Summer writing competition delivers!
Edge of the Forest, watercolour by Maryann McKeeWe asked for people to describe what Ōtari means to them, and did they deliver!
The Trust was delighted with both the quality and quantity of entries received for our second annual summer writing competition. Stories, poems and haiku, some adorned with artwork, included many creative entries from our Under 12 Ōtari fans.
We were fortunate this year to have the help of two quality judges: Carol West, a former Trust Chair, one of our leading tour guides, an esteemed botanist and experienced editor, while Naomi O’Connor is a published writer and poet and keen Ōtari supporter.
All entries were judged ‘blind’ – the judges did not know the names of the writers they were judging. This is an important point – given that the overall winning entry was written by Megan Ireland, who when she is not writing is our very own Ōtari Collection Team Leader. Congratulations Megan!
The judges were also impressed with Tempus Fugit, (Time Disappears) a story initially written by Irene Swadling when she was a third former, back in 1951, about playing in `Wilton’s Bush’ (and forgetting the time!). Alo Highly Commended were Fiona Robinson (What Ōtari Means to Me), Maryann McKee (Untitled poem and beautiful watercolour), Charles Dawson (poems; Rātā, and Kaiwharawhara), and Clarinda Kwee (poem Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush).
What really stood out were the entries from younger contributors. Eddie Lenson’s winning ‘Ōtari Bush Run’ had beautiful, internal rhythm, said judge Naomi O’Connor. ‘It is so immediate, so complete’.
Nellie Burnard (The kākā near me), Elsie Hiliam (To me, Ōtari is a quiet space) and Elsie Hiliam (Frisbees Flying) were also Highly Commended.
We have a collection of books, native plants and cards to be given out to these keen writers - we will be in touch!
To see these stories and poems, please visit https://www.owbt.nz/botanical-art/writing-about-otari-1/ . We will be putting these up over the next few days. For members, we will also be publishing these stories in our next newsletter, due out in March. Happy reading!
Posted: 14 February 2026