M+H Awards

M+H Awards Hall of Fame: Pushing a permanent exhibition into three dimensions

Image: The Te Kōtiu immersive projection experience

Simon Gould, Head of Exhibitions at MOTAT, speaks to Advisor with an update on its plans, as well as a look back at the Museums + Heritage Awards win

An exhibition which uses immersive projection to tell the stories of aircraft from the past, present, and future, was among the projects recognised at the 2024 Museums + Heritage Awards.

The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland, New Zealand, was one of the international museums to receive an award at the event in London.

Its ‘Stories from the skies: Te Kōtiu immersive projection experience’ took home the ‘Best Use of Digital – International’ award.

Decided on by a panel of sector judges, the museum was selected for “bringing objects and stories to life, with beautiful simplicity being its strength,” the panel said, adding “this great use of digital technology is both impactful and effective.”

Simon Gould, Head of Exhibitions at MOTAT spoke to Advisor about what has happened since the museum’s 2024 win, their future plans, and where their award is now displayed

Roy Clare CBE DL, formerly a director of Auckland War Memorial Museum, accepted the award of the museum's behalf

How has your work evolved since receiving the Museums + Heritage Award?

Gould: Te Kōtiu, the immersive projection project we won the M+H award for, was a part of the ongoing evolution of our 4000sqm Aviation Hall, home to our world-leading collection of aircraft.

Te Kōtiu introduced past, present and future stories, and multiple Pacific voices to the space and, as one of our partners recently said, it helps push our permanent exhibition into 3 dimensions – we can see it, hear it, feel it, it surrounds us.

This is something we are drawing from as we continue to re-develop other areas of the Aviation Hall, including a new gallery exploring the fundamental forces of flight, due to open at the end of 2025.

What did winning mean to you and your team?

It was already such an honour to be shortlisted in the company of so many amazing museums. Winning was the cherry on top. It confirmed to the team that we were on the right path of bringing the collection to life, embedded with knowledge and stories from Māori and NZ European traditions, presented in a playfully immersive way.

The New Zealand museum scene is relatively small so it was rewarding to have this platform to showcase globally what we do here, particularly around our bi-cultural approach.

What would you say to others considering entering the Museums + Heritage Awards?

Go for it! Gotta be in it to win it.

It was already such an honour to be shortlisted in the company of so many amazing museums. Winning was the cherry on top."

Where do you display your Museums + Heritage Award?

Proudly in our Exhibitions Team offices with a few others we have won over the years, including a recent Gold Award from the NZ Best Design awards 2024 for our new science and technology centre, Te Puawānanga.

Tell us about your next ambitious project or plans for pushing boundaries further

Opening our new science and technology centre, Te Puawānanga in May 2024 has been our latest ambitious project. It is the largest science centre in New Zealand and unique in its content and design that is proudly ‘of this place’.

Exceeding the needs of the education sector for helping to inspire young visitors into STEM engagement, Te Puawānanga is a hands-on, minds-on science and technology playground aimed at visitors from 0 to teens and beyond. We’ve had a significant boost to our visitor numbers since opening as well as higher visitor satisfaction of overall museum experience. Watch out M+H Awards 2025!

Enter the Museums + Heritage Awards 2025

The Museums + Heritage Awards 2025 are now open for entries ahead of the ceremony next May.

To be among the winners in May, and to find out more about entering, visit the Museums + Heritage Awards website.