Youth Calendar
What's happening in Central Otago
Call for Entries: Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize 2026 (Online)
Dates: Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 27 March 2026
This is a callout to all young writers!
To honour our great friend and esteemed colleague, Rod Oram, we are calling for essays from young people campaigning for a more equitable, sustainable and compassionate world. The closing date for entries is March 27, 2026, at 5pm.
Rod Oram was a revered journalist and environmentalist, known for his rigorously researched and passionate commentaries on business, government and wider society – and what can be improved through human action. His death in March 2024 leaves an enormous hole in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We’re seeking to hear from young writers who can pick up Rod’s mantle, the essence of which is captured in this passage from his first Newsroom column:
“We see the deep damage we’re inflicting around the world. Ecosystems are suffering, societies are shattering, politics are polarising and economies are failing to deliver what we need. Conventional ways create the problems. We need different ways to enable us to achieve deep ecological, social, economic and cultural sustainability.”
Do you share that determination for change? That hope for a better world? We want to hear from you!
For more details click here.
Location
February 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
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Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Welkam Long Vanuatu.Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sat, 28 February 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Floral Portraits by Rod Eales.Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily Call for Entries: Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 27 March 2026 Landfall Tauraka Young Writers’ Essay Prize 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026 Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 3 May 2026 Play It Strange Waiata MÄori Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 21 June 2026 Play It Strange Strange Album Art Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Mon, 3 August 2026 Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 26 July 2026 Tickets on sale now, showing in May: The Big Bike Film Night NZ 2026 (Alexandra)8th, 12th, 15th & 22nd May Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 22 May 2026 @ 7:30pm | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
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