MOTAT

Expansion: 1970–1983

MOTAT greatly expanded between 1970 and 1985, requiring a full-time director from 1970. Much of the expansion was fuelled by government-funded work schemes; by 1979, 450 men were employed at MOTAT through these schemes. In 1971, MOTAT acquired a London Double-decker bus through a sponsorship with Waikato Breweries, who used the bus in an advertising campaign. The bus became one of the most popular attractions as MOTAT and a widely recognised feature of the museum, leading MOTAT to purchase a second bus in December 1972. Within the first two years, 410,000 passengers has ridden on the buses, with MOTAT using the vehicles for promotional events, charity trips and advertising campaigns. In 1973, two night guards were charged for requisioning a double-decker bus, after driving the vehicle to Queen Street to purchase food.