Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) has moved a step closer to joining the Auckland Council group, in a proposal aimed at securing the museum's long-term future.
The proposal, backed in principle by Auckland Council's Value for Money Committee, would see MOTAT become part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the council organisation that also supports Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
No final decision has been made yet. Further investigations and planning work will take place before councillors decide whether to proceed.
For visitors, little would change in the short term. MOTAT would keep its name, collections, programmes and volunteer network. But supporters of the move say it could make it easier for the museum to invest in new experiences, attract more visitors and plan for the future.
MOTAT has been a fixture in Western Springs for more than 60 years, welcoming generations of Aucklanders through its aviation displays, heritage tram rides and hands-on science and technology exhibits.
The museum attracts around 270,000 paying visitors each year and cares for a collection of more than 300,000 objects that help tell New Zealand's stories of transport, technology and innovation.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said the proposal had support from the boards of both MOTAT and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, as well as the MOTAT Society, which helped establish the museum.
She said bringing MOTAT into the council group could help protect the museum for future generations while strengthening Auckland's cultural sector.
The proposal comes after years of discussion about MOTAT's long-term funding model. Auckland Council already provides most of the museum's annual funding through a statutory levy and is legally required to provide ongoing financial support under the Museum of Transport and Technology Act.
Museum Director and Chief Executive Craig Hickman-Goodall said the organisation had actively pushed for the change.
He said the move could help improve the museum's financial position and support future investment, while building on the visitor experiences MOTAT is already known for.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited chief executive Nick Hill said the organisations already work closely together and that there were opportunities to strengthen that relationship further.
Council staff, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and MOTAT will now begin due diligence work and develop an integration plan before any final decision is made.