Calling all happy snappers… Western Bay of Plenty District Council is fishing for photographs of your favourite places.

From Waihī Beach to Ōtamarākau, if you have a special spot in the District, capture it on your camera or phone, and it could end up on Council’s website, social media channels or in important documents.

The ‘My Day in the Bay’ competition invites people to submit stunning scenic shots, with the opportunity to have their work showcased, and the most popular photo winning a polaroid camera.

Earlier this year, an impressive 32,000 people shared their views through Council’s Your Place Tō wāhi engagement process.

Every neighbourhood had a lot to share about what’s important to them, showing just how much people care about where they live.

That’s why Council believes there is no-one better to capture the essence of this beautiful place than those people who call it home.

Locals know where all the hidden gems are, and sharing the places we love through photography is another way we can build a greater sense of pride and connectivity in our communities.

No professional photography skills or gear is required, just your unique view of our District through any lens, so get your phone out and get snapping.

All photo entries will be posted on Council’s Facebook page, and those selected for use will be credited with the photographer’s name, or social media handle.

Together, these images will create a collective photo album for the community — a visible, authentic way of celebrating and showing how loved our District is, as together we continue to do the mahi to make the Western Bay a better place now and for future generations.

To take part, photographers need to post their picture to Instagram and tag it with #MyDayInTheDay (account needs to be set to public) or send it to the Council via Facebook.

All entries will be posted on the Council’s Facebook page on Thursday, January 25 at 1pm, and the photo that gets the most ‘likes’ in the following 24 hours wins a FujiFilm Instax Mini EVO pack.