Held biennially since 2002, the prize aims to 'make contemporary art a more widely recognised and debated feature of cultural life'.
The prize is named in honour of New Zealand abstract painter Gordon Walters and the founding benefactors and principal donors are Erika and Robin Congreve and Dame Jenny Gibbs.
2024 Judge: Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung[3] Jurors: Robert Leonard, Tendai Mutambu, Melanie Oliver and Hanahiva Rose[4] Winner: Ana Iti A resilient heart like the mānawa[3] Finalists: 2021 Judge: Kate Fowle Jurors: Allan Smith, Nathan Pohio, Melanie Oliver, Charlotte Huddleston.
[11] Finalists: There was some controversy over conflict of interest with this iteration of the Walters Prize, as two of the selected works had been in exhibitions curated by jurors.
Finalists: 2012 Judge: Mami Kataoka Jurors: David Cross, Aaron Kreisler, Kate Montgomery, Gwynneth Porter.