In 1958 the National Bank of New Zealand sponsored a competition for a design for a mural to be executed for one of the Bank's branch offices. This was won by Thomas A. Coomber; Judges–C. R. H. Taylor, R. C. Muston, S. B. Maclennan.

A second competition in 1960 included, with the mural award (increased to £500), a prize for a watercolour of a New Zealand landscape. Mural, Leonard C. Mitchell; watercolour, first, Peter McIntyre; second, David Barker; third, Austen A. Deans; Judges–F. V. Ellis, Nugent Welch, R. C. Muston.

Winners in the third competition, 1962, were, Mural, David Barker; watercolour, first, S. B. Maclennan; second, Robin Kay; third, Cyril Whiteoak; Judges–James Turkington, H. V. Miller, E. Mervyn Taylor, and R. C. Muston.

Winners in the fourth competition, 1963, were, Mural, Susan Chaytor; Watercolour, first, S. B. Maclennan;second Juliet Peter; third, W.M. Barraud. Judges–Vernon Brown, R. C. Muston, E. Mervyn Taylor and Colin V. Wheeler.

Winners for 1964 Competition were, Mural, Colin Wheeler, merit awards (£25) to Celina Ballantyne, David Barker, Mavis Cullen, Susan Chaytor; watercolour (£100 prize), Avis Higgs; second, Peter McIntyre; third, Colin Wheeler. Judges–R. C. Muston. A. A. Deans, S.B. Maclennan.

For 1965 the prize for the Mural Section stands at £500, and the judges may make up three special awards to the total value of £150. In the Watercolour Section the prizes have been increased to £200 (£100) first prize, £100 (£60) second prize, and £50 (£40) third prize. Winners for 1965 Competition were, Mural, Rodger Harrison; watercolour, first, Eric Lee-Johnson, second, Peter McIntyre, third, George Packwood. Judges–R. C. Muston, H. V. Miller, and S. B. Maclennan.