The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award is widely recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading art awards, attracting entries from around the country and helping to define contemporary art in Aotearoa. The story of this remarkable woman who lent her name to the Award - and helped to put Whakatane on the ‘art map’ - is less widely known. However, it is a story that deserves to be told.

The Museum Redevelopment will transform the existing Whakatāne Museum and Research Centre building in Boon Street into a purpose-built research, storage and archives facility, which will address longstanding issues of storage, climate control, access and building integrity.