Competitions
Our Public Observations Competition is on this season
Heading into the mountains? Share what you see and be in to WIN!
Share a photo and information about snow conditions or signs of avalanche activity on the NZAA observation page and you’ll automatically enter the draw to win one of two $500 vouchers for a New Zealand outdoor retailer of your choice. Ts and Cs apply.*
You’ll be entered in the draw every time you submit an observation - so the more you share, the more likely you are to win!
Photo and Entry Requirements
- Info+ Photo from this season only (please date your photo)
- Safety is priority as above, do not put yourself or others at risk to obtain an observation
- You must provide your contact details in your entry so we can contact you
- We will be sharing the winning photos on our Facebook Page and NZAA Instagram Page over the season.
- If you have any issues submitting an observation, please get in touch with us
Observations contribute to avalanche safety for the entire alpine community. They’re actively used by our avalanche advisory forecasters and anyone can check them when planning a backcountry alpine trip.Remember to make smart decisions about your terrain and travel choices based on the avalanche forecast and your observations of the conditions.
Get involved – if you’re heading into the backcountry, share what you see, give back to the community and be in to win an epic prize.
*Terms and Conditions
- Eligibility
The competition is open to permanent New Zealand residents that are aged 18 years or older. - How to Enter
To enter, you must submit a public observation on avalanche.net.nz between 1 July 2026 and 1 November 2026. Public observations must contain at least 10 words and 1 picture. Observations must be unique and reflect a genuine observation from the competition time period. - Competition Period
The competition runs in two flights from 1 July - 1 September and 1 September - 1 November 2026. Observations submitted outside this period will not be eligible. - Winner Selection
One winner will be selected from each flight. Flight one will be selected by 4 September 2026. Flight two will be selected by 6 November 2026. The selection of winners is final. - Winner Notification
Winners will be contacted directly by MSC via email by 4 September 2026 and 6 November 2026.
- Winners will be emailed from an address ending in @mountainsafety.org.nz - please check your spam/junk folders.
- If a winner does not respond within 7 days of the email being sent, they forfeit the prize, and an alternate winner will be selected.
- Prize Details
- Two winners will each receive a $500 gift voucher to an outdoor retailer of their choice.
- The prize is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
- Privacy
- MSC will handle your personal information in accordance with its privacy policy.For full details, see NZ Avalanche Advisory Privacy Policy.
- Acceptance of Terms
By participating in the competition, entrants agree to these terms and conditions.
Help spread the word!
It is now easier than ever to share your public observation in your favourite backcountry snow sports groups on Facebook! Simply click the Facebook icon on the top right hand corner of the submitted observation and add your caption. Doing it this way ensures that your observation will have a wider reach and assist NZAA Forecasters.