Eli Winders a 7 year old school pupil from Winton, Southland has today been announced as the national winner of the Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue Art Competition. This is Eli’s first Takahe competition entry and it is the first time ever that he has won a nationwide competition.

The competition was judged by Mark Jensen, Head of Department Arts from Northcross Intermediate School. Mr Jensen said that Eli’s artwork showed a whimsical composition and creative use of colour through layering which was admirable in view of the entrant’s young age. The artwork celebrated this distinctive blue green bird with a group of Takahe that appear captured in motion as they move across the frame.

More than 200 winning regional entries were sent to the finals from an initial 6,000 entries received and judged by local store managers at each of the Mitre 10 stores throughout New Zealand.

For the first time the presentation of the prize will be filmed by the Nickelodeon channel today at St Thomas School in Winton. St Thomas School has also won a $1000 gift card from Mitre 10.

Paula Arblaster, Mitre 10 Brand Manager confirmed that the popularity of the art competition seemed to intensify each year as more and more schools and children were focussing on issues related to climate change including the survival of native species.

“ After three years of running this competition the entries continue to amaze us and we know that many art, social studies and science teachers look forward to encouraging their classes to enter . This year we have also acknowledged the role of the school by providing the gift card” said Mrs Arblaster.