MD: threatening Kiwis’ favourite views

A picture of Hooker Lake in Canterbury has won New Zealand’s most beautiful view in the Macular Degeneration New Zealand (MDNZ) competition designed to raise awareness about eye health among the general public.

The photo was one of more than 500 stunning vistas submitted from across the country, which were judged and the winners announced ahead of MDNZ Awareness Week, from 2-9 November 2020, to educate New Zealanders about the threat of macular degeneration and the simple steps they can take to protect their vision.

“The competition forms part of MDNZ’s campaign to highlight what New Zealanders risk losing if they don’t take their eye health seriously,” said MDNZ’s outgoing general manager Phillippa Pitcher. “These stunning images have been manipulated to show what the view would look like for someone with MD.”

Darren Patterson from Christchurch captured the Hooker Lake photo, while equally beautiful pictures of Taranaki’s Pouakai Tarns and the were submitted respectively by runners-up Delwyn Barnett from New Plymouth and optometrist Aneill Esposito from Nelson.

MD: threatening Kiwis’ favourite views-2-pouakai-tarns_before.jpg

MD: threatening Kiwis’ favourite views-2-pouakai-tarns_after.jpg — Taranaki’s Pouakai Tarns without and with MD

Entries were shortlisted by actress and TV presenter Shavaughn Ruakere, landscape photographer Rach Stewart and nutritionist Claire Turnbull, all of whom have a close family member that suffers from vision loss caused by MD. The shortlisted entries were then put to the public vote via a representative sample of 1,000 New Zealanders to choose their favourite views.

“We were blown away by the incredible entries we received,” said Ruakere. “The competition has served as a timely reminder of just how beautiful our own backyard is. Being able to see and appreciate these stunning vistas is something we shouldn’t take for granted.”