Young New Zealanders Are Being Called On To Share Their Voices For A Kinder World.

May 1

The NZ Vegetarian Society (NZVS) has opened entries for its annual Think Kind Student Competition in which students across Aotearoa, year 0 to 13, (including homeschooled) submit any form of creative work which expresses the importance of kindness towards animals and our planet.  

The grand prize of $1000 towards the winner’s school is graciously donated by the fine people at Kiwiherb, Additionally, each entrant receives a certificate and a voucher from Hell Pizza, and the top 10 finalists and runners up receive a prize pack, containing products from all of our amazing sponsors (listed below).  

The Think Kind Student Competition is open to all creative formats, there are no limits on what students can make or how they choose to express themselves. Through their projects, we hope to inspire young people to reflect on how our food choices affect animals and the world around us, and to explore how reducing meat consumption or embracing a plant-based diet,  can protect the environment, improve human health, and make a real difference to the lives of animals. The competition is also an opportunity to reach young vegetarians and vegans across Aotearoa, reminding them that they are not alone and that they are part of a warm, growing community.  

Entries open May 1st and close mid-August, with judging taking place in August and September. 10 finalists and a selection of runners-up are then chosen, with the finalists' projects going to a public vote on our website from 1 October, World Vegetarian Day. Voting runs throughout October, World Vegetarian Month, and the grand winner is announced on 1 November, World Vegan Day.  

NZVS President, Julia Clements, says  "Young Kiwis never fail to surprise me,  the creativity and passion they bring to this competition is truly something special. Every year we're blown away by the fresh, imaginative ways students explore kindness to animals, sustainability, and our relationship with the world around us. This competition proves that big ideas can come from any age group. We can't wait to see what they come up with in 2026 , and we're counting on the community to get behind them when voting opens later this year!"  

Past entries have included artwork depicting ways we can be kind to animals, poems, short stories, home-made films, and many more! The 2025 grand prize winner was year 11 student Lori Boghossian from Palmerston North Girls' High School, with a one-minute paper stop-motion animation that took over 20 hours of work to sketch (267 drawings), trace, shade, and record.   

© Scoop Media