Honours Council Update – Chris Helliwell
Firstly, a sincere thank you to everyone who supported the Asia Pacific Photography Awards. These awards have proven to be a valuable addition to the NZIPP awards programme, and it’s been fantastic to see the level of engagement and the quality of work submitted.
Behind the scenes, the awards have also provided an important opportunity for the Honours Council to test and refine the Iris Awards judging system. This process allows us to identify and resolve any issues ahead of the live judging in Christchurch, ensuring everything runs to the highest standard.
Congratulations to our three finalists — Andre Boto, Greg Hanlon, and Kris Anderson — with Kris Anderson taking out the Overall Grand Champion title for the second consecutive year. An outstanding achievement.
Looking ahead, we also have the upcoming World Photographic Cup announcements, with Richard Wood and Andie Noon representing New Zealand as finalists. The awards will be broadcast online from Iceland at 12pm GMT, and we wish them all the very best.
The Honours Council has also carefully reviewed the feedback received from last year’s survey as part of our planning for the 2026 Iris Awards. We remain committed to continually refining and streamlining the awards process, while maintaining the integrity and history of these prestigious awards.
The Honours Council has also been working extensively on the rules for the 2026 Iris Awards. We expect these to be released very soon, with entries opening on 25th May and closing on 21st June.
It is important that all entrants take the time to read the rules thoroughly, as there will be changes again this year.
And finally, don’t forget to secure your Gala Awards Evening tickets — now on sale. This year’s theme is The Golden Hour, and it promises to be a fantastic evening celebrating the very best of our industry. www.nzphotoshow.co.nz/buy-tickets
We look forward to sharing more with you soon and to seeing the work that will come through for the 2026 awards.