The Cockayne Memorial Fund was established by public subscription to commemorate the life and work of Leonard Cockayne by the encouragement of botanical research in New Zealand. Under the rules amended by Council in 1957, the interest from the fund shall be used for grants in aid of addresses to be delivered or publications related to botanical research by New Zealand workers. Council in 1964 resolved to institute a triennial Cockayne Memorial Lecture, to be supported by the trust fund.
The Leonard Cockayne Memorial Lecturer for 2009 is Professor Peter Lockhart FRSNZ, from the Allan Wilson Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North.