Ngaroma Riley from Tāmaki Makaurau has been announced the winner of the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 2025, and has collected her prize of $10,000 — sponsored by the Molly Morpeth Canaday (Whakatāne) Fund, presented by Arts Whakatāne with exhibition partners Te Kõputu a te Whanga a Toi.

The award, in its 39th year, seeks to highlight and celebrate excellence in contemporary art practice throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The winners are selected by three preliminary judges—this year: Fiona Jack (Head of School, Elam), Elliot Collins (Artist, educator and winner of MMCA 2024) and James Gatt (Curator, Te Uru).

Ngaroma’s winning work Fisher/Kai hī ika made from tōtara, acrylic paint, bone, muka and tung oil, was chosen by Guest Judge Sonya Korohina (Director, Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga) as the winner from an impressive 528 entries nationwide. The 50 finalists are on view at the Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre.

Reflecting on the winning artwork, Sonya Korohina said, “From a distance this work appears to be sculpted from clay. Marks made by the makers hand can be seen. Rather, it is a single piece of tōtara expertly shaped by artist Ngaroma Riley.”

Riley, who hails from Tāmaki Makaurau says in her artist statement:

“The Fisher/Kai hī ika is a work that reflects on and celebrates pre-colonial Māori life. It recognises skills that have been threatened but still can be remembered and reclaimed. It alludes to food sovereignty and the right to consume healthy, traditional kai from te taiao.

Ten other prizes were also awarded by Korohina:

Akel Award runner up — Julia Holden & Sarah McGaughran (Waiheke, Ōtepoti Dunedin) for Intertrigo

Craigs Investment Partners Youth Award — Anoushka Coulter (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland) for Noxie

Robinson Law Highly Commended — Beau Cotton (Ōtepoti, Dunedin) for The Necklace

The Mayor’s Prize — Estelle Withy (Whakatāne) for Humanity hanging on by a thread

Merit Award sponsored by Our Place Magazine — Mickey Smith (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland) for ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Merit Award sponsored by Gordon Harris — Matt Arbuckle (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland) for Coloured Time

Merit Award sponsored by Browne School of Art — Fa’amele Etuale for His last birthday 30/10/2013

Merit Award sponsored by Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology — Kāryn Taylor (Upper Moutere Tasman) for Dual State

Merit Award sponsored by Frames by Daniel — Luca Nicholas for Dries Van Noten Fall 2015 Menswear

Merit Award sponsored by 4Artsake Gallery, Ōhope — Andrew Rankin for Rewarewa on Rewarewa, composition #3

A final award will be decided by visitors to the exhibition. The People’s Choice is arguably the most popular Molly Morpeth Canaday Award. Sponsored by The Whakatāne Society of Arts & Crafts and Anne Tolley this award is decided by popular vote and announced at the end of the exhibition – so make sure you get your votes in the box for your favourite!

Molly Morpeth Canaday 2025 finalist’s exhibition details:

2 February – 22 March 2025

Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, 49 Kakahoroa Drive, Whakatāne.

All the artworks are for sale giving art lovers and collectors the opportunity to purchase some extraordinary artworks.