Golden Bay Bag Art Competition Winner

The Golden Bay Bag Ladies' campaign to make Golden Bay the first community in New Zealand to become plastic shopping bag free, is another step forward to their goal of producing a Golden Bay cloth bag alternative with a unique Golden Bay design - for shops to sell.

Good Green Fairy Alison Ramsey (left) and Golden Bay Bag Lady Nicola Basham (right) with winning artist Niki Jimenez (centre) of Clifton, Golden Bay with her winning design, Photograph taken by Victoria Davis

Out of 60 entries to the Golden Bay Shopping Bag design competition, Niki Jimenez's clever artwork took top award of $500, donated by the GB Community Board. Niki's bag art had a funky design with a whimsical twist. The judges felt that it had a fun appeal and the symbols might encourage thinking outside the bag, in terms of our individual responsibilities to reduce waste.

"Niki's design reflects Golden Bay's arty, environmentally conscious image", said the Bag Ladies spokesperson, Nicola Basham “the cloth bags will be used not only by residents, but by visitors who will take them around the world, promoting the cause and Golden Bay at the same time”.

The Golden Bay design will be screen printed onto reusable cloth bags to be made available in two shapes, for shops later this year.

"We also felt compelled to give an additional award to one of the many young artists who entered." Said Nicola “and we all agreed that Robyn Tomlinson,12 of Rockville Golden Bay wins the Promising Young Artist Award and will get a $20 gift voucher for art supplies from Take Note of Takaka for her thoughtful, appealing design.

An exhibition of all the BAG ART competition designs will be on show for all to see in the windows of the DOC Offices on Commercial Street Takaka, from 25th to 31st March.

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