He developed the Akaroa Village Inn on the former Bruce Hotel site, in partnership with Mr Merv Cooper. His winning image, chosen from 238 entries, was of cyclists on the beach at Okains Bay.

“It’s a place where you must come to do nothing for a week,” says Shane Mitchell-Bathgate, who owns Akaroa Village Inn, just opposite the main wharf. “The only time this town of just under ...