6PM THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2026
DOORS OPEN 5:30PM
Hosted by Megan Jaffe Real Estate
with Auctioneer John Bowring
Ray White Ponsonby Auction Rooms
3 Pompallier Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland
Supporting the development of the Best in Show Art Award in 2027
The first national, artist-led portrait award celebrating the animals in our lives, open to all painters throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
The auction also supports
Waiheke Island Society for the Care of Animals (WISCA)
AUCTION LOTS
Travel to Waiheke
Island Direct is supporting the Best in Show auction with ferry travel for selected Waiheke experiences.
Where ferry travel is included in an auction experience, your journey to and from Waiheke will be provided by Island Direct, helping you get to the island and enjoy the experience from the moment you leave Auckland.
Donated by Island Direct Ferries
LOT 01
Secret Waiheke — The Insiders' Guide with the Sunny Soul Company. for six people
Retail value: $4,500
Be collected from Matiatia Wharf by Linda in Solana, the Sunny Soul Kombi, for a bespoke day exploring some of Waiheke's less ordinary pleasures.
The experience includes:
The Sunny Soul Company Solana Kombi and Linda as driver
Alembics Scent Trail experience
Picnic lunch for six by Take a Bite
Waiheke oil and honey tasting at AllPress Olive Groves
Clothing-optional swim at Little Palm Beach
Towels, if required
Return to Matiatia Wharf at 4.00pm
Return ferry tickets for six
Donated by The Sunny Soul Company, The Alembics Lab, and Take a Bite
LOT 02
Terra & Tide Private Personalised Tour, for two people
Retail value: $1,800
Be met at the ferry by your Terra & Tide guide for a private, personalised Waiheke experience including:
Expert guiding
Scenic touring
Wine tasting
Olive oil tasting
Artist studio visit
Ferry: return ferry travel is at the winner's own cost and booking (to be confirmed).
Voucher valid for one year from the auction date, 15 October 2026.
Donated by Terra & Tide, Adventures in Nature
LOT 03
Island Aviation & Waiheke Wings — Deluxe Waiheke Experience
For two people — two for the price of one.
Minimum price: $749 for two people
An all-inclusive Waiheke Island experience for two, with all reservations arranged by Island Aviation.
The experience includes:
Ground transport to North Shore Airport, departing from Auckland downtown or an address of the passengers' choice
Scenic flight from North Shore Airport to Waiheke Island, via the Sky Tower and Rangitoto Volcano, with views of Browns, Motutapu and Motuihe Islands
Three-course lunch and wine tasting at Batch Winery
Fullers 360 return ferry tickets
Ground transport to and from the airports
Voucher valid for one year from the auction date, 15 October 2026.
Donated by Island Aviation, Batch Winery and Waiheke Wings.
LOT 04
eRIDE Waiheke — Island Cycling Experience, for four people
Retail value: $800
Arrive on Waiheke by ferry and head to eRIDE for a full-day self-guided cycling experience. Choose from the Man O' War Ride or Five Bays Ride.
The experience includes:
· Return ferry tickets for four
· eRIDE bike hire for four
· Bike pick-up and drop-off at Matiatia
Donated by eRIDE
LOT 05
Golf & The Heke Grain to Glass Distillery Experience, for four people
Retail value: $1,200
Arrive on Waiheke by ferry, where Julia will collect you and take you to The Heke for a Grain to Glass Distillery & Brewery Tour, including beer and whisky tastings.
Note: The tour normally runs at 11.15am daily, but another time may be arranged with advance booking.
Followed by a 9-hole round of golf at Waiheke Golf Club, voted “9 Best Holes Northern,” with two golf carts provided.
The experience includes:
Return ferry tickets for four
The Heke Grain to Glass Distillery & Brewery Tour and beer and whisky tasting for four
9-hole round of golf for four
Two golf carts
Julia as your transfer driver
Donated by The Heke and Waiheke Golf Club
LOT 06
Sculpture on the Gulf & Casita Miro Lunch Experience, for two people
Retail value: $1,200
Be met at the Waiheke ferry by artist Julia Holden for a guided walk through Sculpture on the Gulf, followed by a fiesta lunch with wine matching at Casita Miro, Onetangi, and a visit to Waiheke Art Gallery.
The experience includes:
Return ferry tickets for two
Sculpture on the Gulf tickets for two
Julia as your driver and guide
Fiesta lunch and wine matching for two at Casita Miro
Visit to Waiheke Art Gallery
Booking essential
Donated by Waiheke Art Gallery and Sculpture on the Gulf, Casita Miro Vineyard and Julia Holden / Best in Show Art Award
LOT 07
Waiheke Art Collectors — Private Art Tour, for four people
Value: $1,100
Be met at the Waiheke ferry by artist Julia Holden for a bespoke day exploring Waiheke's contemporary art scene.
The experience includes:
The curator’s guide through Best in Show 2026 at Waiheke Art Gallery
Visits to the studios of three Waiheke artists:
ceramicist Sophie Perkins
artist and poet Tracey Sullivan
sculptor Chris Bailey
Julia as your driver and guide
Return ferry tickets for four
Julia will book you a table at a Waiheke restaurant of your choice, such as Tantalus, 372 Onetangi, Te Motu or Mudbrick. Lunch at own cost.
Donated by Julia Holden / Best in Show Art Award
LOT 08
Tantalus Estate Premium Reserve Wines x 3
Retail value: $300
Écluse Reserve 2018
Deep garnet, our cabernet blend shows luscious, ripe blueberry and blackcurrant notes with a generous amount of warm tobacco, cedar, and seasoned saddle leather. Fresh and fruit driven, with a delicate yet well-structured palate offering a polished texture and refined tannins for a lingering, complex finish. Eighteen months of élevage guided the development, finesse, and complexity of the wine.
Syrah Violé 2018 x 2
This deep purple Syrah blossoms with blue fruits and violets, and is directed as if by gravitational force to a subtle undertone of exotic cooking spices. Vibrant and sharply focused, displaying smoke-accentuated nuance on the palate with a plush, velvety texture. Eighteen months in carefully selected French oak barriques with regular bâtonage rounded the tannins, adding to the framework a fine grip and delicate finishing touch. Cellaring Potential: 10 years
Donated by Tantalus Estate, Waiheke Island
LOT 09
Batch Winery, Private Winery Tour & Tasting for four people
Retail value $240
Enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour of Batch Winery, hosted by one of their talented guides.
Explore the Batch Winery winery, barrel cellar and vineyard, with tastings of four of Batch’s award-winning wines along the way. The tour is interactive, informative and fun.
Approximately 40 minutes · Bookings essential
Donated by Batch Winery, Waiheke Island
LOT 10
Hair by Trudi
Retail value $120 - $180
Gift voucher for one woman’s haircut or two men’s haircuts
with Trudi at Hair by Trudi, Waiheke Island.
Donated by Hair by Trudi, Waiheke Island. Voucher date: 1 February 2027
LOT 11
Call of the Wild, poetry platter by Waiheke potter, Sophie Perkins
Retail value $190-$300
330mm wide, 40mm high.
A unique, large stoneware platter, glazed with deep and layered celadons. This platter is reminiscent of our dense native forest, and inspired by our precious native birds that dwell there.
Foodsafe glazes.
Donated by Sophie Perkins Ceramics
LOT 12
Rockpool bowl, by Waiheke potter, Sophie Perkins
Retail value $250-$450
280mm wide, 130mm high.
A one-off, large stoneware bowl, glazed with mixed foodsafe glazes. This bowl is inspired by the revered landscape of Waiheke beaches.
Donated by Sophie Perkins Ceramics
LOT 15
Portrait Commission by Julia Holden
Commission Julia Holden to create a unique oil-on-canvas portrait of your beloved companion animal.
Working in close consultation with you, Julia captures the character, presence and individuality of your animal in a hand-painted original artwork — a lasting portrait to treasure.
Reserve $2,500
Example:
Hazel. Oil on canvas, 50 × 50 cm
2025
Bespoke original artwork
LOT 16
Sculpture on the Gulf 2027 — Experience for Four
Enjoy Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf, Waiheke Island’s celebrated outdoor sculpture exhibition, returning from 26 February – 29 March 2027.
Explore an extraordinary 2-kilometre coastal walk at Matiatia, discovering ambitious contemporary sculptures set against the spectacular vistas of the Hauraki Gulf.
A wonderful opportunity for four people to experience one of Aotearoa’s most distinctive art events in Waiheke’s stunning coastal landscape.
Travel to and from Waiheke is at the winner’s own cost.
Auction lot generously contributed by Waiheke Art Gallery and Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf.
WITH GRATITUDE
A very special thank you to Megan Jaffe Real Estate for generously providing the opportunity to hold the Best in Show Auction at their Ponsonby auction rooms, and for supporting the project in bringing this event to life.
My heartfelt thanks also goes to the Waiheke businesses, artists and makers who have so generously contributed experiences, artworks, products and time to make this auction possible.
The warmth and generosity behind these contributions is extraordinary. I hope that, in return, you will support these wonderful local businesses and artists — visit them, book with them, buy their work, and tell others about what they do.
SUPPORT WISCA
If you would like to make a direct contribution to WISCA, follow this link: https://www.wisca.co.nz/wisca-donate
HELP MAKE BEST IN SHOW NATIONAL
The funds raised through this auction will help turn Best in Show from an artist-led exhibition into the Best in Show Art Award — a new national call-out inviting painters throughout Aotearoa to participate.
Your support will help fund the essential work behind the artwork: developing the website and digital infrastructure, building the national artist call-out and submission system, legal and administrative planning, artist agreements, communications, marketing and all the practical work required to make the inaugural national award happen.
This is the next step in Best in Show’s evolution — from three local and regional exhibitions into a recurring, artist-led national platform connecting audiences with artists and the animals we love.
WANT TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN?
Best in Show is an artist-led project, not a charity, so I cannot accept charitable donations. If you would like to contribute towards making the national award possible, I am open to sponsorship, creative collaborations and other forms of support.
Please get in touch via the contact form to discuss how to get involved with Best in Show Art Award.