The Ruanuku Art Award was introduced in 1995 under a policy initiated by Tairāwhiti Museum, in collaboration with Toihoukura, School of Māori Visual Arts.
This award, sponsored by the museum, was drawn up for a student in their final year in recognition of their achieved excellence over the course of their studies. As an integral part of the sponsorship the museum would select and purchase a work produced by the award recipient and acquire it for the museum’s fine arts collection.
From 1997 to 2022, the sponsorship of the award passed into the hands of Professor Jack Richards who had expressed an interest in assuming patronage after viewing an exhibition by the students at the museum. As part of this agreement the museum would continue to select a Ruanuku artwork for the collection while Professor Jack Richards would provide the funding.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Ruanuku Art Award and many students who have received this financial support and recognition are still cognisant within the realm of the arts. Whether practicing within their chosen medium or passing on their knowledge to receptive minds within the education system, contemporary Māori art has and will continue to flourish as visual language is a significant key in learning and retaining indigenous identity.