It is given to a researcher who "has undertaken work of great scientific or technological merit and has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the particular branch of science.
"[2] It was previously rotated through more fields of science – in 1918 they were: botany, chemistry, ethnology, geology, physics (including mathematics and astronomy), zoology (including animal physiology).
[3] In 1991 it was overtaken by the Rutherford Medal as the highest award given by the Royal Society of New Zealand.
[4] The obverse of the medal bears the head of James Hector and the reverse a Māori snaring a huia.
[5][6] The last confirmed sighting of a living huia predates the award of the medal by three years.