Design our digger winner!

In November 2025, Nelson City Council and Isaac Construction put a call out to all designers under 13 to design a digger that would be used by Isaac Construction staff working on the Bridge to Better project.

“The creativity was incredible!” says Stakeholder Engagement Manager Isaac Construction Ged Casey, who was part of the judging panel for the competition.

“There are definitely some very talented and imaginative kids in Nelson. We saw everything from cow spots and tiger stripes to lightening bolts, stars, flowers, dots and every colour imaginable. We laid all 57 entries out on a table and the four of us walked around in circles trying to make an almost impossible decision. Slowly we whittled down our favourites till we decided on a favourite.”

Earlier this month, members of the judging panel and Blair from the Breeze visited Nelson Central School to surprise competition winner Ivy whose bold and verdant design had caught the judges’ eye.

Blindfolded and arm-in-arm with her best friend leading the way, Ivy was led to the street followed by her classmates. When Ivy’s blindfold was removed it took a moment for the surprise to settle in. Giggling she said it only took her 10 minutes to draw her bright, lime green digger adorned with monstera leaves, which was now sat, in real life, on the back of a truck.

The judging panel loved how crisp and clean Ivy’s design was and commented that it would bring Isaac Construction’s passion for conservation to Bridge Street.

“It’s unlike anything else you’ll see on the street this year,” says Ged.

Ivy's digger will be on Bridge Street for the next 18 months. Pop down and see it for yourself!

Visit Nelson City Council’s Facebook page to see the video of Ivy seeing her digger for the first time.