The Process
Digital Entry
All submissions go through a pre-selection process from the digital images supplied by the artist and are judged on merit by the three independent pre-selection judges. Artist's names are not visible to the judges.
Next stage Results are collated by a rigorous points system and the selected works are called in and delivered to the venue for final judging by the Guest Judge. Artists are advised of the outcome via the website and will be sent information as to when their work will be called in.
Finalist award judging is made by the sole Guest Judge in (person)when the work is curated and hung.
Selected works A list of finalists and the titles of their works is posted on this website (prior to opening)
Exhibition The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Exhibition is on display at Te kōputu a te whanga a Toi
Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre. DETAILS HERE
Winners
The awards are presented at the opening event.
All finalists and winners are encouraged to attend the prize giving.
The major winner is especially encouraged to be present to receive their award.
Digital Entry
All submissions go through a pre-selection process from the digital images supplied by the artist and are judged on merit by the three independent pre-selection judges. Artist's names are not visible to the judges.
Next stage Results are collated by a rigorous points system and the selected works are called in and delivered to the venue for final judging by the Guest Judge. Artists are advised of the outcome via the website and will be sent information as to when their work will be called in.
Finalist award judging is made by the sole Guest Judge in (person)when the work is curated and hung.
Selected works A list of finalists and the titles of their works is posted on this website (prior to opening)
Exhibition The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Exhibition is on display at Te kōputu a te whanga a Toi
Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre. DETAILS HERE
Winners
The awards are presented at the opening event.
All finalists and winners are encouraged to attend the prize giving.
The major winner is especially encouraged to be present to receive their award.
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2026 Guest Judge Judy Darragh Judy Darragh lives and works in Auckland, Aotearoa, and played a significant role in the development of Artspace, Auckland (now Artspace Aotearoa), the independent artist-run spaces Teststrip, Auckland, and Cuckoo. Her work is known for brightly coloured sculptural assemblages of found objects, recycled items, industrial materials, collages, photography, video and poster art. Her practice came to prominence during the 1980s in an era of conspicuous consumption; her work displays a fondness for everyday objects that is witty and provocative. Judy has taught art at secondary and tertiary levels for over 40 years and has mentored young artists throughout Aotearoa. She, with Imogen Taylor, co-editor of Femisphere, a publication supporting women’s art practices in Aotearoa. Judy continues to exhibit extensively throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand and her works are held in numerous public collections in Aotearoa. Judy is a member of Arts Makers Aotearoa, an advocacy group for the visual arts. www.femisphere.co.nz www.artsmakersaotearoa.nz Photo credit : Sam Hartnett |
Ngaroma Riley is an artist and people connector of Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, and Pākehā descent.
A founder of Te Ana o Hine, a wahine-led carving shed based at Te Tuhi in Tāmaki Makaurau, Ngaroma began her carving journey making Buddhist statues while working in Japan. Since returning to Aotearoa in 2020, she has completed a Certificate in Whakairo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. In 2022, she built a storehouse for a public installation in Kaitaia, and in 2025, she won the Molly Morpeth Canaday Major Award. She is known for her karetao (hand-carved puppets) and love of chainsaws. 
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2026 Preliminary Judge Matthew Elwood Matt Ellwood is an artist and art teacher with more than 25 years of professional experience in the arts sector, merging his passion for both art and education. He was born in Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington and lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. He was, until recently, the Head of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College, where he is still teaching as a Senior Lecturer and studying towards a PhD through AUT. His thesis working title is “Expanded Drawing and the Gallery as Site: From the Drawing Lesson to the Pensive Image”
merging representational charcoal drawing and advertising imagery with crafted sculptures that also function as drawing apparatus in a gallery setting. Ellwood has been, among many roles, a high school teacher; a national visual arts resource developer; and a University Tuakana programme coordinator. He is an award winning artist himself, earlier in his career, winning the Arts Trust Development and Kaipara Awards, as well as a merit in the Parkin Drawing Prize. He has an extensive exhibition record both nationally and internationally, and has been curated into major survey exhibitions and publications of contemporary New Zealand art. He is represented in Auckland by Melanie Roger Gallery. |
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2026 Preliminary Judge to be announced |
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