Photographs capturing some of last year's biggest global issues are about to go on display to the public in Auckland.
The World Press Photo exhibition begins on Saturday, July 1, and features the work of dozens of photo-journalists whose images have been selected by a jury panel.
"This year we had over 80,000 images from over 5,000 photographers so you can imagine all the work that goes into it," says exhibition curator Yi Wen Hsia.
"We believe the role of visual journalists is incredibly important in this world.
"Fake news has become a very well-known phenomenon and that is why these photos are so important, these visual journalists who enter their photos in world press - they understand how important it is to have reliable information, to get these stories out that otherwise are not spoken about or we don't know about."
The images feature in eight different categories from significant events throughout 2016.
The conflict in Syria and Iraq, as well as the subsequent refugee crisis, features heavily at this year's exhibition.
A photo captured by New Zealand photographer Robin Hammond is also on display.
"It's a beautiful, stunning picture of a mental health patient from South Sudan," says Ms Hsia.
"Her name is Helen. It's a very personal story and that's why the jury chose this picture as well because they remembered her and they remembered her name."
Ms Hsia says while the images are often confronting, it's important people see them.
"It's not just a privilege just to come here and to see the images, but it is part of our responsibility, it's part of our education of learning about the world, and I feel like we shouldn't be scared of that."
The World Press Photo exhibition runs until the end of July at Smith and Caughey's on Queen St.
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