MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)

06/06/2026

Discover what Steve, Dougie and Grant are up to in the Aviation workshop aka: the Blister Hangar. 🙌✈🤓

04/06/2026

Today on World Environment Day we have big sustainability news to share.
We’ve reduced our carbon emissions by 76% since we began our Toitū Carbon Reduce audits – and we’re incredibly proud of our progress.
Our recent audit results showed a further drop in emissions, down to just 141.63 tonnes from 596.89 tonnes in 2017 – that’s a 35% reduction in the past year alone.
Our biggest win? Switching to wood-based biofuel in the Pumphouse boiler and Steam Tram No. 100. But it’s also the smaller, everyday choices – thoughtful purchasing, sustainable products, and clean energy – that are really adding up.
A huge shout out to our team for making sustainability part of how we work every day.
Toitū Carbon Reduce certification isn’t a tick-box for MOTAT; it’s a marker of the kind of museum we want to be for future generations.








NZ

04/06/2026

June at MOTAT ✈️

03/06/2026

Come spend a day with Trey, our event coordinator to see what work happens behind the scenes at MOTAT! 💡🤩🤸‍♀️

01/06/2026

Congratulation to the MOTAT Team for winning three Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand - FRONZ awards this weekend!

It is always wonderful to see mahi to restore and maintain heritage technology recognised and rewarded.

Our Wanganui Tram Trailer 21 won the MOTAT Society Tramway Restoration Award.

https://www.motat.nz/collections-and-stories/stories/from-garden-shed-to-gorgeous-wanganui-tram-trailer-21/

The Western Springs Railway volunteer, and recent MOTAT Society Oriel Bickerton Internship recipient, Pranz Cortez won the Young Achiever Award.

Western Springs Tramway Volunteer and Tram Trailer 21 restoration project lead Leyton Chan won the Paul Heighton Memorial Award for excellence.

Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to FRONZ for another wonderful Kings Birthday weekend conference and event.

Congratulations to our 2026 award winners - you smashed it out of the park!

The MOTAT Society Steam Locomotive Restoration Award goes to Lumsden Heritage Trust for the static restoration of D6.

The Pounamu Travel Carriage/Guards Van Restoration Award goes to Mainline Steam Heritage Trust for carriage AO 100.

The Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand Restoration Award goes to the Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust and Dunedin City Council for the Chain Hills Tunnel project.

The MOTAT Society Tramway Restoration Award goes to Western Springs Tramway for the restoration of Wanganui Trailer No. 21.

The NZ Safety Blackwoods Motive Power Award goes to Steam Incorporated for the restoration of DC 4375.

The KiwiRail Infrastructure Improvement Award goes to Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Gisborne City Vintage Railway: GVR for their North Yard retaining wall & siding, and GCVR for their new rail passenger loading platform.

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Young Achiever Award goes to Pranz Cortez from MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology).

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Volunteer of the Year Award goes to David Rowland from Steam Incorporated.

The Paul Dillicar Memorial Award for Innovation goes to Pounamu Tourism Group, Steam Incorporated and Canterbury Railway Society for their cooperative and innovative effort to boost additional passenger rail services in the South Island.

The Paul Heighton Memorial Award for Excellence goes to Leyton Chan of MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology).

Amazing work to all our winners and nominees!

31/05/2026

Can you guess this week’s MOTAT Mystery Collection object? 👀

This hexacopter drone will be part of a special collection of food delivery objects on display at MOTAT After Dark this week! ✨

📅 04–05 June | 6pm–9pm
📅 06 June | 6pm–10pm

Check it out in person while enjoying delicious eats from the food trucks with friends 🍕🌮🎶
Book your tickets today so you don’t miss out! https://motat.nz/events/motat-after-dark/

30/05/2026

Happy Samoan Language Week! Try using our word of the week in your daily life. 🙌💡

30/05/2026

Special visitors from the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand - FRONZ will be treated a rare after-dark running of our trains. Check out these oil head lamps!

29/05/2026

👑 This King’s Birthday long weekend, hop aboard the Dockline Tram - running all weekend through the Wynyard Quarter 🚋✨

There’s plenty happening at MOTAT across the three-day break! Let the kids explore and play in Te Puawānanga, then make a day of discovering hands-on experiences, exhibitions, and heritage demonstrations.

On Sunday, step into the Forge and Print Shop to see traditional blacksmithing and printing press demonstrations in action 🔨🖨️ Learn how things were crafted in the past and experience the creativity and skill behind these historic trades.

Don’t forget to visit Aviation Hall and explore Ngā Hau a Tāwhirirangi: Forces of Flight ✈️

Make the most of the long weekend with our $45 Family Pass - including 2 adults and up to 4 children 🎟️

A perfect long weekend outing for the whole whānau 💛

27/05/2026

🎵 The Aotearoa Music Awards 2026 are on today! ✨
Who have you been listening to lately? 👀🎧

Check out our collection display 'Beats in Time' in Te Puawānanga, exploring the innovation and evolution of music technology through the years 🎶⚡