Diverse Needs

PARKING INFORMATION

Mobility parking is available at both MOTAT sites (Great North Road and 98 Motions Road). Mobility parking at MOTAT Motions Road is outside the Aviation Hall close to the entrance and no pre-booking is required. Mobility parking at MOTAT Great North Road is available within the Museum gates and you need to book and arrange access in advance of your visit. This can be done by either calling our team on 09 815 5800 or emailing bookings@motat.org.nz

GATE C ENTRY

School groups enter MOTAT Great North Road via Gate C on Stadium Road. This is accessible by wheelchair. If you have booked a mobility vehicle park, you will enter via Gate D on Stadium Road. When you are contacted by your Educator the week before your visit, please let them know if you have booked a mobility park.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY - AROUND SITE

Many of MOTAT’s public spaces are accessible, but as we are an operational museum spread over a large area with varying terrain, unfortunately not all areas are suitable for wheelchairs.
Areas with wheelchair access include large exhibition halls and display spaces, the MOTAT Café and the MOTAT Shop display. The buildings in the MOTAT village are not accessible.
We have a limited number of wheelchairs available for visitor use while you are at the Museum so please get in touch before your visit for more information.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY - MEETING SPACES

MOTAT has five meeting spaces available for schools, these are allocated based on the size of your group. Four of these spaces are wheelchair accessible, and two are close to wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Please let us know in advance if you require a wheelchair accessible meeting space.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY - TRAMS

Although many of our trams can accommodate wheelchairs, they were designed before wheelchair accessibility was a priority so access can be difficult depending on the ability of the individual. To facilitate access, we ask that the accompanying caregiver be available to lift the wheelchair user onto the tram. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of our heritage trams, we are unable to accommodate large groups of students in wheelchairs on a tram. We advise that you check with us beforehand to see if we can accommodate your specific needs. We will always do our best to give everyone an experience on our trams.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY - BATHROOMS

At MOTAT Great North Road: Accessible bathrooms are located in Building 1, at the MOTAT café, and in the lower level of Building 5.
At MOTAT Motions Road: The aviation hall has two accessible bathrooms.
Unfortunately, nappy change facilities at MOTAT are not wheelchair accessible, nor are they suitable for school-aged children.
You can find a map here

EDUCATION SESSIONS

All of our classrooms are wheelchair accessible. Our education content can be tailored to cater for students with disabilities (physical or neurodiverse) if we have this information in advance.
MOTAT can accommodate special school bookings. We will negotiate an education session and timetable to suit the needs of your students. The more information we have, the better we can accommodate you. When your educator contacts you the week before your visit, please let them know of any students coming who have diverse needs.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

• Teacher aides and parent caregivers of disabled children receive free entry to MOTAT, and they do not count towards your adult: student ratio. Please let your Educator know if you have teacher aides, or parent caregivers with you.

• All of our classrooms have sensory aides available on request.

• Every hour boiler steam is vented from the Pumphouse at our Great North Road site. This is a loud noise and can be unsettling for students with sensory difficulties. If you have students with sensory difficulties please prepare them in advance.

• Service dogs are welcome at the Museum.