Celebrating the past and embracing the future

Publish Date : 06 Aug 2018
Celebrating the past and embracing the future
Left to right from Auckland Museum- David Reeves (Director Collections and Research), Julie Foster (Project Lead), Jon Glen (Building Facilities Manager).

Auckland Museum has won the top prize in Auckland Transport's annual Travelwise Choices Awards 2018.

The awards recognize organisations committed to promoting sustainable travel to their staff, students and colleagues.

"Auckland Museum has shown leadership by encouraging staff to get out of their cars," says Miguel Menezes, AT's Travel Demand Manager.

Changing the way staff get to and from work

"It developed a comprehensive Workplace Travel Plan with staff, it's putting in facilities for cyclists and provided help and incentives to encourage staff to change the way they get to and from work.

"Museum management created carpool parks, extended bike parking and is putting in showers, changing rooms, drying facilities and lockers. They've also provided cycle training and are starting a guaranteed emergency ride home scheme.

"Thirty staff signed up to a purpose-built carpool scheme within the first two weeks, and the number of people cycling to work doubled."

Auckland Museum Chief Executive David Gaimster says an approach based on strong staff engagement has led to success in developing an achievable, multi-year travel plan that appeals to staff and that aims to drive behaviour change.

"The museum is delighted to be acknowledged, our travel plan belongs to our people, who have wholeheartedly embraced new ways of commuting.

"We are thrilled with what we've already achieved, with increased numbers already biking, taking the bus, carpooling or riding a motorcycle or scooter to work. It's freed up more public parking for our visitors.

"We're delivering on our Five Year strategy, creating a sustainable museum fit for Auckland's future and playing our part in a greener Auckland."

The Travelwise Choices Awards have six categories representing each sustainable travel mode plus an overall Supreme Travelwise Choice: Sustainable Travel Champion, Think Outside the Car, Pedal Power, Step it Up and Match Maker.

2018 Travelwise Choices Award winners and categories:

  • Supreme Travelwise Choices Award
    Winner: Auckland Museum
  • Sustainable Travel Champion Award
    Winner: Matt Ensor, Beca
    Highly Commended: Sarah de Zwart, Business North Harbour
  • Pedal Power Award
    Winner: Auckland Museum
    Highly Commended: Auckland Council
  • Think Outside the Car Award
    Winner: GoodSense
    Highly Commended: Mott MacDonald
  • On Board Award
    Winner: Datacom
    Highly Commended: MRCagney
  • Match Maker Award
    Winner: Unitec
    Highly Commended: Auckland Museum
  • Step-it-Up Award
    Winner: Auckland Free Walking Tours
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