IHC library needs some awesome new bookmarks to give to our readers, and we'd like to invite you to be our designers!
This competition is open to all rangatahi (young people) across Aotearoa who have an intellectual disability and/or autism.
IHC library wants to provide a space for young artists to show off their creativity, connect with nature, and have some fun over the school holidays. The winning bookmarks will be printed and sent to library users with their books – sharing your art with readers across Aotearoa!
This year’s theme is Nature – so we want to see your inspiration from the natural world, whether it’s animals, rivers, oceans, mountains or flowers!
To enter you must have an intellectual disability and/or autism and be 21 or under. We will award prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place across four age categories (12 winners total).
Age groups:
A range of prizes are up for grabs, including $100, $50, and $25 Warehouse vouchers, art supplies such as pen and pencil sets, acrylic paint kits and colouring materials, plus Kuwi’s Creative Colouring Book and art prints by author and illustrator Kat Quin.
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Entries close at 11:59pm on 26 April 2026.
Chardonnay Kyle
My name is Chardonnay. I like working with wool and fibre, diamond dots, drawing pictures, pottery, and making paper crafts.
I am an IHC Media contributor, you can check out my videos over here on the IHC Media website. In my latest videos I show viewers how to make a pīwakawaka and a tūī. I also help run the weekly Draw with Lindsey class on Thursdays at 11am.
My favourite native bird is the bittern.
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Josh Morgan
Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) is a picture book illustrator, visual designer and musician. With the author Sacha Cotter he forms the amazing storytelling / song-writing / award-winning-picture-book-making team, Cotter & Morgan. They live with their wee family amongst a vast hoard of picture books, story ideas and drawings on scrap bits of paper. Josh has created mahi for children’s books, chapter books, TV, animation, School Journals, a Māori Picture Dictionary, magazines, infographics, maps and posters. His illustrations are crafted in pencil and coloured in digitally, often incorporating scanned textures he has found or created with paints and inks. His ultimate aim is to capture the magic of the handcrafted, uneven, lumpy and imperfect charm of the picture book illustrations and animations he grew up with (and still loves). In 2025 Josh was the recipient of the prestigious, Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award and one time in 2026 one of his kids said he was real good at drawing.
If Josh had to choose a native bird it would probably be the Kārearea (New Zealand Falcon), as it has special significance for his iwi and they are just rad... However he does have a big soft spot for tūī, and is often found in the back garden trying to speak to them in their own language… and might have used them as inspiration for illustration and maybe a guitar riff or two.
Kat Quin
Kat Quin is a celebrated illustrator and author known for her vibrant and imaginative children’s books, including the Kuwi the Kiwi, Kiwicorn and Flit the Fantail series.
For Kat, creativity is the ability to translate the vivid worlds of her imagination into something tangible that others can experience. Whether through her whimsical illustrations or her educational resources, she finds joy in sharing her vision and stories with children, helping them explore new worlds.
Kat is also especially proud of her work supporting Save the Kiwi, with book sales contributing over $75,000 towards the conservation of New Zealand’s iconic native bird.
IHC National Office
Level 15, 57 Willis Street
Wellington
9am to 5pm
Monday to Friday
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