01 September 2009 - MOTAT Brings Auckland's Heritage Back to Life
1 September 2009
MOTAT Brings Auckland's Heritage Back to Life
Take a horse drawn carriage back in time and experience what life was like at the turn of the Century. MOTAT brings the past to life in its celebration of ‘living heritage' as part of Auckland City's ‘Auckland Heritage Festival', which kicks off on 19 September and runs until 4 October 2009.
To celebrate the festival theme, ‘living heritage', MOTAT is recreating the Victorian era with its much anticipated ‘Gold, Coal and Corsets' Victoriana Live Weekend which runs from Saturday 26 September - Sunday 27 September 2009.
The weekend will showcase some of MOTAT's most popular Victorian activities, including the blacksmith's forge, where visitors can watch MOTAT's resident blacksmith Anton Maliarov in action, perfect their Victorian manners with etiquette lessons hosted by Madame Walters, and travel as they did in Victorian times on horse drawn carriage rides.
Angela Willis, Marketing Manager at MOTAT, says that heritage should never be something that has been and gone and left in the past, it should always be alive and part of our lives.
"MOTAT is thrilled to be supporting the Auckland Heritage Festival this year and pleased to be doing its part in bringing to life the customs and traditions that have made New Zealanders who they are today," says Ms Willis.
With something for everyone, the Victorian Village is a must see with MOTAT's volunteers dressed in Victorian costume, and authentic Victorian games including a series of fun and exciting outdoor games, wooden stilts, egg and spoon races and even a lesson in butter making! MOTAT's popular Tactile Dome has even been turned into a gold mine!
As a special treat the fleet of historic Auckland heritage trams will also be running throughout the weekend, including Tram 11, built in 1902, New Zealand's oldest operating electric tram.
To keep the kids entertained MOTAT will also host an exciting and educational school holiday experience ‘Something out of Nothing', which will run from 28 September - 11 October 2009.
The programme is sure to keep little hands busy, with its focus on the resourceful nature of the Victorians.
"The Victorians didn't have all the latest mod-cons that we have today and people often had to make something out of nothing. So we thought this was a great way for kids to learn about their heritage, by making their own activities out of very little," says Ms Willis.
Hours of fun is sure to be had with a range of action packed activities, including coal shoveling races, ‘games out of thin air' - elastics, hopscotch, stilts and sack races, and the ‘make n take' area where kids can make their very own Victorian book or board game and take it home as a MOTAT souvenir.
The Auckland Heritage Festival is part of a long-term campaign to protect heritage areas and buildings and encourage Aucklanders to celebrate the city's heritage.
Dates
MOTAT's ‘Gold, Coal and Corsets' Victoriana Live Weekend runs Saturday 26 September - Sunday 27 September, activities run from 10am - 4.30pm. The Something out of Nothing school holiday experience runs from Monday 28 September - Sunday 11 October, activities run daily from 10am - 4.30pm. Auckland Heritage Festival runs from Saturday 19 September - Sunday 4 October at various locations around Auckland.
Location
Two sites at Great North Road and Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland. Parking is available at both MOTAT sites and trams will transport you between sites.
Costs
You can enjoy Victorian Live Weekend and the Something out of Nothing school holiday experience as part of your entry fee to MOTAT. You can also enjoy the rest of the museum, free tram rides and entry to the Tactile Dome and Voyager1 for one great price.
Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) $30
Adults $14
Children (under 16) $7
Senior Citizens / Students $7
Children under 5 years are free
MOTAT Mates (annual pass) - $65 for a family (entitles you to unlimited visits to MOTAT)
Public Information Number
Phone: 0800 MOTAT NZ (0800 668 286) or visit www.motat.org.nz for further information and activity times.
For more information, photos, media passes or interviews please contact:
AIMEE HARE | ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE | MANGO
E aimeeh@thisismango.co.nz
T (09) 374 5485
M 021 810 329
F (09) 306 0974
