What does it mean to be a woman in Auckland today? | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

The year 2010 is the 125th anniversary of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) in Auckland - the oldest women's organisation in the city and the largest in the world.

The YWCA has touched the lives of so many people since 1885 with its mission to positively improve society by making women's lives better. From beach camps and thrift clubs to holiday programmes and self defence courses, it has been part of Auckland's fabric - and continues to work on issues which strengthen our communities by empowering women.

The association's Auckland chief executive, Hilary Sumpter, says the key to staying relevant is to inspire women.

Today, the association has three key strands: the YWCA hostel; low-cost accommodation in central Auckland, ensuring delivery of programmes; advocating and lobbying on matters that relate to women and women's leadership; and community ways to develop women's leadership.

The Future Leaders Programme is a mentoring and leadership skills scheme for 14- to 18-year-olds from decile 1-4 schools. Encore is an exercise and support course for women who have had breast cancer surgery.

To mark its anniversary, the YWCA Auckland and The Aucklander are jointly running a photography competition, calling for images of our women in today's world.

"We expect to see inspired, inspiring photographs of women in Auckland today - empowered and embracing leadership in all roles in their lives," says Ms Sumpter.

The photo competition will be judged by a YWCA staff and board member, well known Auckland photographer Becky Nunes and The Aucklander's chief photographer Kellie Blizard.

Entries close at 5pm on November 25. Winners - announced in The Aucklander on December 2 - must be able attend a YWCA cocktail evening in Newmarket on Wednesday, December 1.

All entries must be in jpeg format, at least 15x10cm and 300dpi, and must be emailed to: photo@theaucklander.co.nz

Categories and prizes* are:

Overall winner. Wins a Google Nexus One mobile phone and a two-hour tutorial with photographer Becky Nunes, combined worth $1500.

Public vote (one from all three categories) wins Nokia E75, another high-end handset worth $900.

The three categories and prizes are: Portrait winner receives a Vodafone 845 smartphone worth $399; Youth (aged between 12 and 18) winner gets a Samsung digital photo frame in black (SPF-107H) 10" screen, 1GB built-in memory, ultra slim, worth $244; and Creative Interpretation wins the latest Polaroid 300 and 1 pack of film worth $230.

* Phone prizes do not come with contracts.

Terms and conditions

A maximum of three photos per entrant is permitted.

Photos must have been taken between 4 November, 2010 and 5pm, 25 November, 2010.

All submitted photos must be in JPG format and between 15cm and 10cm in size, 300dpi and must be emailed to: photo@theaucklander.co.nz. Entries that are smaller or larger in size may be rejected.

By entering the competition, you are stating your photographs are original and taken by you. This means:

• you have secured all necessary permissions and releases for people and property in the photo (click here for a short release form; http://www.compginz.org.nz/releasesmore.htm)
• your photo/s have not been previously published without limitation in any advertisements, books, magazines, postcards, or calendars.

All entries must meet the entry requirements and be suitable for viewing by people of all ages. All entries will be moderated for suitable content before being entered into the competition.

Copyright in the work remains with the photographer. By entering the competition you grant the YWCA Auckland the right to use photographs on their website, newsletter or for any fundraising activity (e.g. prints, cards, calendar) for two years from closing date for entries. Any other use will be negotiated with the photographer and agreed in writing.

Public choice category will be decided via website, with promotion via Facebook. The top 20 shots will be made available for viewing in the newspaper and online for voting.

There is no entry fee

Winners - announced in The Aucklander on December 2 - must be able attend a YWCA cocktail evening in Newmarket on Wednesday, December 1.