Olivia Goodwin wins logo design competition

AND THE WINNER IS: Olivia Goodwin with her winning design for the Guardians of the Kapiti Marine Reserve design-a-logo competition.

Olivia Goodwin, 8, from Raumati Beach, is the Guardians of the Kapiti Marine Reserve design-a-logo competition winner.

Primary school pupils were asked to submit logo designs for the Guardians group, which was set up recently to help protect and enhance the marine reserve

Olivia's design will be enhanced by a graphic designer in time for the upcoming 25th anniversary of the marine reserve.

She has also received a free overnight trip to Motu Ngarara, which is at the south end of Kapiti Island.

The 25th anniversary will be marked at the Kapiti Boating Club, Paraparaumu Beach, on Saturday, May 6 from 1pm.

The sea themed event will feature plenty of family activities followed by a pot luck barbecue.

Logo competition organiser Bianca Begovich, who is also a member of the Guardians group, thanked all the children who had taken part in the competition as well as the support shown from parents and teachers.

"It was a really tough decision," she said at an event at Mahara Gallery on Friday to announce the competition winner.

Kapiti mayor K Gurunathan thanked competition participants and noted how important it was to look after the nationally significant reserve.

Four highly commended awards were also announced and included Amelie Bland, Olive Kitteny, Ella Mear (all from Raumati) and Jakita Paranihi-Nuku (Otaki).

The highly commended entries received a kohatuiti (polished stone) from the island and a gift bag including a poster, several books from Mahara Gallery and a copy of Chris Paulin's The Rocky Shore.

Competition judges included Ms Begovich, Mr Gurunathan, Mahara Gallery director Janet Bayley as well as Guardians member Karl Webber.