MOTAT wins International Exhibition of the Year Award
MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (MOTAT) WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
Media Release: 16 May 2025
MOTAT’s Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre has won International Exhibition of the Year at the prestigious Museums + Heritage Awards in London – the museum-world equivalent of scooping an Oscar!
The Museums + Heritage global awards celebrate the very best of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions from around the world.
The judges said: “This outstanding exhibition seamlessly blends science and Māori culture, creating a vibrant, culturally connected space for young audiences. With impressive visitor impact and strong evaluation outcomes, it sets a new benchmark for inclusive, engaging STEAM experiences."
This is the second year in a row MOTAT has won a Museums + Heritage international award. In 2024, Aviation Hall immersive experience Te Kōtiu, a multimedia projection telling the Aotearoa New Zealand story of flight, won the Best Use of Digital – International category, getting the nod ahead of Notre-Dame de Paris and Trinity College, Dublin.”
Head of Exhibitions Simon Gould attended the ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane to receive the award and said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted, it is a great honour to be even shortlisted alongside the likes of Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo, and The Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, but to win is incredible.
“Congratulations to our fellow nominees and thank you to Museums + Heritage and the judges for recognising Te Puawānanga in this way – we are blown away!”
MOTAT CE / Museum Director Craig Hickman-Goodall said: “What fantastic news from London this morning. To win two Museum + Heritage awards in two years underscores the incredible mahi taking place at MOTAT. This award backs up the wonderfully positive feedback we get from visitors and all users of this new experience – I am so proud of our talented Team.”
As MOTAT’s largest investment in exhibition space in a decade, Te Puawānanga’s two-year development and build began with research and collaboration with a wide range of education, and science and technology knowledge holders, including Mātauranga Māori experts. It opened in late May last year following a blessing by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and its myriad visual and interactive experiences for all ages have delighted and inspired visitors ever since.
More than 248,000 visitors and 23,000 early childhood, primary and secondary students have experienced Te Puawānanga so far.
MOTAT’s Director, Museum Experience, Sally Manuireva said: “This is excellent recognition of the incredible team at MOTAT, external suppliers and contractors, and advisors who developed Te Puawānanga, from the ground up, to remove barriers for young learners in engaging with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) learning and pursued MOTAT’s mission to educate and inspire the innovators of tomorrow.
“Schools and families tell us we have succeeded in creating a thoughtful, rigorous and playful environment that meets their needs. To be acknowledged by the prestigious Museums + Heritage Awards is further affirmation we have achieved our goal and is extremely rewarding.
“We’d like to acknowledge the partners and supporters who have helped to bring Te Puawānanga to life: Science Alive, Te Whai Ao Dodd-Walls Centre, Auckland Council, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the NZ Lottery Grants Board, the David and Genevieve Becroft Foundation, Autex Acoustics and Jacobsen.”
The Museums + Heritage award is the latest accolade in a slew of awards for the centre this past year. At New Zealand’s Best Design Awards, it won a gold and silver pin for design and use of colour and the centre’s Energy Machine won gold for Digital Installation. It was also awarded the 2024/2025 Resene Total Colour Installation – Experiential – Product Award.
MOTAT will celebrate one year of Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre on 24-25 May during New Zealand Tech Week with Sports Tech, an event showcasing the innovative world of sports and fitness technology providing hands-on fun for visitors of all ages.
ENDS
For further information, images or interviews, please contact Communications Manager, Nicole.parish@motat.org.nz, Ph 021 273 3563
