2026 Plane Spotting Competition

Promotion
Monday 08 June, 2026
2026 Plane Spotting Competition

Enter our Plane Spotting Competition for a chance to win flights, exclusive tours and exciting flying experiences!

OPEN RUNNERUP Grant Bell

If you’re a seasoned plane spotter, keen photographer or simply an enthusiastic traveller with a smartphone, jump on board! From helicopters to speciality jets, to that flight to visit your mates, all your flight-related snaps are welcome. The competition culminates in a fun prizegiving night where finalists join the wider airport community to celebrate. Incredible prizes are up for grabs, including free flights with Originair, trial flights and exclusive airport tours.

The photos will be judged on composition and use of lighting as well as your ability to showcase what makes Nelson Airport distinctive. Get creative, we want to see your unique perspective!

Entries are open from 10 June to 31 July.

Logos for website

Be in to win incredible prizes:

  • Originair return flights for two
  • Trial flight with Helicopters Nelson
  • Boeing B737-800 Simulator experience from Nelson Aviation College
  • Trial flight with NZ Aviation Academy
  • Exclusive tour of Generation Global
  • Trial flight with Nelson Aero Club
  • Exclusive ride down the Nelson Airport runway in the Airport Emergency Services fire truck
YOUTH Winner Tristan Merschdorf

Judging categories:

  • Best Overall
  • Runner Up Overall
  • Best Youth (Under 18)
  • Runner Up Youth
  • Best Smartphone
  • Runner Up Smartphone
Smartphone website

How to enter:

  • Email your entry to promotions@nelsonairport.co.nz 
  • Please let us know if you're entering the Youth or Smartphone categories
  • Up to THREE photos per entrant
  • Include your Name, Age, Contact Phone Number and Residential Area

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

  • Free entry
  • Maximum of three photos per entrant
  • Under 18 year olds may enter general competition and youth competition
  • Competition runs from 10th June 2026 - 31st July 2026
  • Photo must be taken within the past 12 months
  • Photo must be the following format: .jpeg/.jpg, .png, .tiff
  • Make sure your picture is reasonable quality, ideally at least 1500 pixels x 1500 pixels
  • Photo must be less than 20mb
  • Videos cannot be entered
  • Entrants can be based anywhere however pictures must be of/around Nelson Airport
  • Nelson Airport and sponsors reserve the right to use any/all entries for promotional materials, original or otherwise
  • Any decisions made by Nelson Airport Limited in regard to any part of the promotion are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Nelson Airport Ltd reserves the right to amend, change or cancel the promotion and/or the terms and conditions of the promotion at any time.
  • Nelson Airport Ltd staff, board members and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
  • Entries must be made within the timeframe specified to be eligible.
  • Nelson Airport Ltd reserves the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or lesser value in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
  • All prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for any cash alternatives, in whole or in part.
  • By accepting the award, each winner acknowledges that their name and photograph may be used by Nelson Airport Ltd for publicity purposes.
  • The promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with any third-party website, such as Facebook, which is used to promote the competition.
  • The winner will be notified by Nelson Airport Ltd via contact details submitted when entering the promotion or through third-party websites where the competition is promoted, such as Facebook. We will make three attempts to contact the winner within two weeks of the closing date. Where attempts to contact the winner fail, Nelson Airport Ltd reserves the right to select another winner. 
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