Resene Total Colour Awards Entry Form 2026

For the Heritage and Neutrals categories - if your project suits either or both of these categories, you may enter them as extra categories in addition to the project category you choose.

Projects must not have been previously entered in the Resene Total Colour Awards.

The prize for each category winner is NZ $1000 and Resene Total Colour Award ‘Tone-e’.

The Nightingale winner wins NZ $2500 and a Resene Nightingale Award sculpture.

Residential Exterior Colour use exterior with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Residential Interior Colour use interior with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours/wallpapers will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Commercial Exterior (includes commercial, corporate rebranding, industrial, government sector) Colour use exterior with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Commercial Interior Public + Retail Space (includes commercial, corporate rebranding, industrial, government sector) Colour use interior with a focus on the paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours/wallpapers will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Commercial Interior Office (includes commercial, corporate rebranding, industrial, government sector) Colour use interior with a focus on the paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours/wallpapers will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Education Colour use on educational facilities interior and/or exterior with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Landscape Colour use in an exterior or interior garden setting including planting and built features with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Installation - Experiential - Product Installation – Use of Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colour as part of an installation/display, such as store (permanent or pop up) or show merchandising, exhibits, signage or other displays. Must have been fully built/exhibited or displayed/exhibited in the last calendar year. Other colour choices inspired by Resene colours and non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours. OR Experiential - Use of Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours as part of an experience or event, such as interactive paint/colour activities at events. Must have taken place in in the last two years. OR Product – Use of Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours as part of a product’s design. Must be a product that is complete and has been available for sale in the last calendar year. Other colour choices inspired by Resene colours and non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products.

Rising Star – Student Colour use in a student specification as part of their architecture or design course work at a recognised tertiary institution with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours selected. Must be currently enrolled or have completed the course within the last calendar year. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours/wallpapers will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products.

Heritage – may be entered in addition to another category on this entry Colour use in an exterior or interior (or both) focused on heritage values and the Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene colours used. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Neutrals – may be entered in addition to another category on this entry Colour use in an exterior or interior (or both) focused on use of Resene paints/stains/coatings and Resene neutral colours or a tone on tone Resene colour palette. Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products. Must be a project that is fully built.

Lifetime Achievement Celebrate the lifetime achievement of a person in the architecture, design, landscape or product design industry who has shown dedication to innovative and excellent colour use in their work by nominating them for this award. (Must live in Australia, New Zealand or Pacific Islands). NB. To nominate someone for the Lifetime achievement award please provide a written submission including as a minimum: About the person, who they are, their current/past job roles; why they are deserving of the Lifetime achievement award; some examples of colourful projects they have been involved in. Please include a minimum of six images of their work.

Automatic entry into the Colour Master Nightingale Award The best of the best award selected from the category winners (excluding the Lifetime Achievement award).

Terms of entry:

• You may enter more than once but each entry must be on a separate entry form with its own information and images. 
• Projects must use predominantly Resene colours and Resene  paints/stains/coatings.
• Entry is open to anyone residing in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and/or for projects in these regions. 
• It must be a project that is fully built.
• All categories will be judged with a focus on the Resene paints/stains/coatings  and Resene colours used. 
• Other non-paint surfaces/finishes/colours will be judged in combination with the use of the Resene colours/products.
• Please supply 6-12 images of the project. Each image should be named: your  name_project name_then the image number (1-12).

When taking photos, fill the frame (when looking through the viewfinder) with the building/room/subject to maximise the image the judges see. As the images are a key part of your entry please ensure that they showcase your project well and include closeup and wide angle views so that the judges can see the detail of your project and how it sits within its environment. Please ensure the images show the entire colour scheme and are representative of the colours and materials used. You do not need professional photography. 

By entering the Resene Total Colour Awards, I/we agree that Resene may retain and use the images and information submitted, including details of those involved in the project, for promotional or other purposes in the future without infringing on any other company’s/person’s privacy, copyright or intellectual property rights. Such use by Resene will be without charge. I/we confirm that all information contained in this entry form is a true and fair representation of project details and that I/we have checked with the painting contractor, manufacturer or building/homeowner or building/project manager that Resene colour/s and Resene products (such as Resene paints, Resene stains and/or Resene coatings) have been used on the completed project. I/we were responsible for the colour specification for the project detailed in this entry. I/we have obtained express permission from the property owner or brand owner (for the product/display categories) to enter it in the Resene Total Colour Awards. 

Entries that are incomplete or non-conforming can unfortunately not be accepted for judging.

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Resene may add, remove or adjust categories at our discretion. Where an entry will perform better in another category, we will endeavour to move it to that category.  If sent electronically, a digital signature can be used.

Thank you for your entry.

We hope to announce finalists at the end of February

For any enquiries about the Resene Total Colour Awards, please email  colourawards@resene.co.nz – we’re here to help.