A new science and technology experience opening in April 2024
PANONI – CHANGE
Kei te hangaia e mātou tētahiwheako hōu o te pūtaiao me te hangarau mā koutou, ka tuwhera ā te Āperira, 2024. Kua tīmatate haerenga!
We’re building you a new science and technology experience, opening April 2024. The journey begins!
During the next 12 months, our main exhibition hall at MOTAT Great North Road (Building 5) will be transformed into an interactive science and technology centre, designed for Aotearoa New Zealand’s families and students.
The new experience will provide spaces and exhibits for all ages and stages and will be at the heart of MOTAT’s vision to educate and inspire our children – the innovators of tomorrow.
Closely aligned to The New Zealand Curriculum, the experience will deliver highly engaging content that draws on STEAMM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics and mātauranga Māori).
This new experience will be ready for visitors in April 2024 and we can’t wait to welcome you in!
Along the way:
Please excuse any disruption while the building is under development – we promise it will be worth the wait!
Building 5 is unavailable to the public until April 2024, as we first make improvements to its structure and then create the new galleries within it.
To keep you safe, a few other areas will also be unavailable to visitors until October this year, please see the map and FAQs below.
Everything else at MOTAT Great North Road and the Aviation Hall, Motions Road remain fully operational.
Activities that would ordinarily take place in Building 5, including Education, will be moved to other spaces around the Museum. Tram rides will continue over the 12-month period, as will Little Flick EV rides (with a slightly altered route.)
All holiday programmes, Live Days and other events will continue across both MOTAT sites throughout the year, but with more activity taking place at MOTAT Motions Road than in the past.
Thank you to all our visitors for your patience and understanding during the construction period while we bring you this exciting new experience.
This map shows the area currently under development at MOTAT Great North Road
FAQs
An exciting new science and technology experience is being created in Building 5 during the next 12 months, with opening scheduled for April 2024.
From 3 April 2023 to April 2024, Building 5 will be unavailable to the public; and from April 2023 to October 2023 the School House, Print Shop, Fire House, and Regent Street will also be behind safety fencing and therefore not available to visitors.
All other MOTAT exhibitions and activities as well as events Live Days and holiday programming will continue across both sites on Great North Road and Motions Road. The Aviation Hall will become more of a focal point for activity than in the past. We have a full calendar of events, Live Days and holiday programming planned for the next 12 months.
We expect to open the new science and technology experience in April 2024 – it is a 12-month project.
At MOTAT Great North Road, almost everything is open (including the Pumphouse, Get Smart, Accelerate, Machine Makers, Telecommunications, MOTOTS, Main Street Playground, Little Flick EV rides and The Village) except: Building 5 from April 2023 to April 2024; and the School House, Print Shop, Fire House, and Regent Street from April 2023 to early October 2023.
Yes, Western Springs Tramway will continue to run as normal for the duration of the project.
Yes, we will have a full programme planned across the year with lots to look forward to, including our events, holiday programmes and monthly Live Days. These will run across both MOTAT locations as usual, with a little more emphasis on exhibitions and activities at MOTAT Motions Road.
While our new science and technology experience is being developed, Education programmes and teaching will take place at MOTAT Aviation Hall, Motions Road with a dedicated Education tram running between our two sites, so students still get to visit MOTAT Great North Road. See here for more information.
Wheelchairs and other mobility aids can still be taken to all places normally available at MOTAT. Please be aware that our wheelchair access bathrooms are limited at MOTAT Great North Road during the April-Oct 2023 period with just the bathroom facilities at Building 1 and 2 available. We apologise for this and please ask our friendly team if you have questions and for directions.
The Building 5 toilets will be unavailable until at least October 2023. In the meantime, when you are visiting the Great North Road site, you can use the toilets at Accelerate (Building 2), and the café at Cropper House, please refer to our visitor map.
