The 13-year-old St Hilda's Collegiate pupil won the best photo award in the competition which attracted photos and descriptions of favourite outdoor places from school pupils across the country.
Her photo of the labrador at Cannibal Bay was accompanied by the words: ''Can you imagine a beautiful beach with amazing green hills and scenery, clear blue water, heaps of fishing spots and only a few minutes to the nearest paua-catching spots. This is my idea of heaven on Earth, and I am lucky, because it's real. This is my favourite place in my region ...''
Emma said she seldom took photographs, but she took this one using her mother's camera because it incorporated the three things she liked most about Cannibal Bay - the hills, the water and the trees.
Emma said she submitted the photograph in the competition as part of a year 9 class assignment, and although the result was unexpected, she was excited about the award.
Despite the success, she had no ambitions to become a professional photographer. The other prize in the competition was for best description, which was awarded to Opotiki Primary School pupil Danni Kurei (11), for her poetic description of Waiotahi Beach, in the Bay of Plenty.
New Zealand Walking Access Commission chairman John Forbes was impressed with the number and quality of entries.
''It's clear from the entries that a great number of New Zealand students and teachers are passionate about the outdoors.''
