The Hay's Art Competition, 1960, offered three prizes (£300, 150, and 50) for the best paintings submitted. The prizes were donated by Hay's Ltd. of Christchurch. The judges, Messrs Russell Clark (q. v.). Peter Tomory, and John Simpson bracketed the winners, and equal awards were made to Colin McCahon, Julian Royds, and Francis L. Jones.

Main prizes in the second Hay's Art Competition, 1962, were, oil painting, first (£250), Peter McIntyre; second (£100), Joan Macarthur; watercolour, first (£100), Stewart Maclennan; second (£50), Astrid Stevens; sculpture (£50), Innes L. Elliott; Sir Daryl Lindsay, Australia, was the sole judge.

In 1963 first prize (oils), T. A. Field; second, Mary Darwin. First in watercolours was P. F. Noonan, with C. V. Wheeler second. The judge was G. Thomson, Australia. No competition was held in 1964.