Kiwi kids doodle new Google logo
Relevant offers
Digital living
The logo for internet search engine Google has received a makeover with everything from kiwifruit to wetas, hokey-pokey ice cream, jandals and sheep as part of a competition sponsored by Te Papa.
More than 600 schools took part in the first Doodle for Google competition in New Zealand, which challenged students from Years 1 through 10 to design a doodle inspired by the theme "My New Zealand".
The winning doodle will appear on the Google.co.nz homepage for one day next year, where it will be seen by millions of users.
Click here to vote for your favourite.
Google spokeswoman Annie Baxter said thousands of entries were received from more than 600 schools.
One hundred finalists were selected on the basis of artistic merit, creativity, and how well the theme was communicated.
Judge Steve Dunstan, from clothing company Huffer, said judging the doodles had been an "awesome" process.
"What came through loud and clear for me in the doodles is a patriotic pride and love for our clean and green lifestyle, from recycling and nuclear-free symbols through to native forests and grassy landscapes."
Charlotte Huddleston, a judge from Te Papa, said all finalists were really imaginative.
"I was genuinely impressed by the subtlety and creativity of the designs."
The customisation of the Google logo first took place in 1999, and have since celebrated events, anniversaries and holidays worldwide with doodles that incorporate the Google logo including Anzac Day and the anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historical ascent of Mt Everest.
Visitors to Te Papa can view the top 20 doodles in Our Space as well as on the giant Our Space screen on the outside of the complex next to Te Papa's main entrance.
All students in the top 20 will be flown to the grand final event, to be held in Wellington on November 5, where Dennis Hwang, Google's original Doodler, will select the overall winner.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
Patrick #22,
I agree with you. This is an advertisement, even if it is rolled in glitter.
Why do we feel that kids creating advertising for a huge non-NZ company somehow validates us/them on the world scale? Don't get me wrong, i'm not having a go at the kids, obviously! But why the free publicity in the form of infomercials passing as legitimate news?
Is it my eye sight, or did the Google Australia version have a cabbage tree in it?
I think the art work is lovely..this was not my point though....my childhood was lovely by the way. I am just critical of the media more than most people. I was not attacking the children. sheesh. sorry for caring about bad media coverage....
All this over an image that will be on google for one day ... pretty much only visible to New Zealanders ... for 24 hours ... which will be just as dismissible as every other variation of their logo … man New Zealand is oresome.
Patrick #22 - buddy if you want actual news you'll have to go ahead and start & fund your own TV news show that isn't ratings based and funded by advertising, cos as far as TVNZ is concerned it isnt going to happen. some of them were great work. be cool to see some on the actually webpage.
@ James #26, patrick #22, Blair Anderson #15
Woah 'Fun Police' alert!
Bet you guys are a barrel of laughs to hang out with!
These are actually pretty good. It will be cool to see it on google though!
Hmmm FER! maybe you should have at least read the title of the article? The art is done by kids...
Poor Patrick - was your childhood that negative and sad that you have to rain on these children's parades? Yes Google might be a mega-company, but at least this competition (note that I didn't state that the company itself) encourages children to look at branding (and that kiwi comprising of many logos has taken that to the extreme, I reckon), and also their nationality - which is also a type of brand and badge. Activities like this challenge children to take a simple idea and mimic, yet also interpret. As for Corporate media-relations -- why not rain on other parades - like Australian-owned banks avoiding paying NZ tax so that their Australian profit (money going to OZ from our bank accounts) isn't damaged? Or how about the government scrapping community education funding (so they can say they saved a couple of million? no? half a million.. maybe - just)? If you get angry about anything, it should be that. Not about children having their 15minutes of fame. When I was growing up there was a jingle: 'If anybody can, a Kiwi can, make New Zealand proud again, so come on! New Zealand come on!'
Smile NZ, and be good to each other!
Man sues Twitter over hate blog
More iPhones sold per second than babies born
Microsoft's man who monitors privacy
'Janitor satellite' made to clean up space
Telcos call for Crown company to be scrapped
Apple mobile apps stealing private data
iPad factory conditions 'better than the norm'
Australia to get R18 rating for games
Email hacking managed well, says Key
App turns iPhone into adult toy
Guptill blasts Black Caps to victory in first T20
One dead after Northland crash
Flights disrupted as severe thunderstorms hit Auckland
Fatal speed-gliding crash near Wanaka
Bolivian squirrel monkeys arrive at Wellington Zoo
Hurricanes weather elements to beat Chiefs
Travellers stranded after Air Australia goes bust
Goodman Fielder to slash New Zealand jobs
Police car pig painter mystery unsolved
New York apartment sells for NZ$105m
Cocaine-accused Kiwis in cruise clash
Wellington earthquake fear: No way in or out
Flights disrupted as severe thunderstorms hit Auckland
Daily trivia quiz: February 17
Nightlife matriarch dies at show
MP's deep baritone brings down the house
Fatal speed-gliding crash near Wanaka
Cocaine-accused Kiwis in cruise clash
Wellington earthquake fear: No way in or out
China 'will see Crafar ruling as racist'
Dazzling Adele silences critics
High cost of living mars return to NZ
I'm no ticket scalper, says Mallard
Marryatt skips council debate to play golf
Horsham Downs meditation pyramid planned
Councillors back Marryatt's golf leave
Kids from Fairfield Intermediate are pure artists! They had the best drawings, but only one had to be chosen which was Sophie's. Thank You for winning our school an interactive white board, and I hope your new mac book serves you well. :) x