page_title: Trams in New Zealand
section_title: Museums
hierarchical_section_title: Trams in New Zealand / Museums
context_page_description: Trams in New Zealand were a major form of transport from the 19th century into the mid-20th century. New Zealand's first tramway was established in 1862, followed by a steam tramway in 1871, and the first electric tramway in 1900. The tram systems in the main centres, and in some smaller towns, were soon electrified. By the 1950s, all systems were in the process of being replaced by trolley-buses or buses. The last tram service closed in 1964, in Wellington. A tram running parallel with a public road opened in Western Springs, Auckland, in 1980 and a central city loop line in Christchurch in 1995. Both are heritage lines.
  Some moves are proceeding to extend tram use in New Zealand again. In Auckland, the MOTAT line was extended in 2006–07 to reach a second site of the museum, and the former Auckland Regional Council promoted the creation of an Auckland waterfront tram line, originally with MOTAT vehicles, but will initially operate former Melbourne trams leased from Bendigo Tramways Company Limited. The Auckland Tramway Limited opened 6 August 2011 with the support of Waterfront Auckland and the new Auckland Council.
context_section_description: There are several tram/transport museums with operating vintage trams:
  The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland has the Western Springs Tramway with 1.72 km of track, running alongside Western Springs Park parallel to Great North and Motions Roads to Auckland Zoo, across Motions Road and to the second MOTAT site. Museum tram operations commenced within MOTAT on 16 December 1967, to the Motions Road corner in 1980, to the Zoo in 1981 and to MOTAT's Aviation and Railway site in April 2007.
  Tramways Wanganui Trust New Group formed to complete and look after Wanganui tram No.12 which was donated to the City of Wanganui after the body was privately restored in Auckland. Also plans to renovate Wanganui tram No.8 and New Plymouth Birney No.8 (yes duplicate fleet numbers) which were both donated to them un-restored by the Wellington Tramway Museum. They will run on a 120m heritage line built alongside the Whanganui River between the new tram shed and towards the berth of the P.S. Waimarie. The names of Wanganui and Whanganui and now both in use for the City.
  Wellington Tramway Museum at Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekakariki (near Wellington); started 1965.
  Tramway Historical Society operating the Ferrymead Tramway at Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchurch, trams started 1968 (steam) and 1970 (electric).
  Christchurch Tramway Ltd in central Christchurch since 1995
   Whangarei Steam and Model Railway Club has two 900mm / 2'11" gauge former Lisbon trams 520 and 526 acquired by Dave Harre for a Heritage Trams for Henderson project in Auckland he was promoting, having previously been stored in Aspen, Colorado for another promoted tramway. One of the Lisbon tram bodies was restored by Harre's group prior to the Henderson project being abandoned and the trams being acquired by the Whangarei Group, which intended building an operating tramway attraction.
  Bill Richardson Transport World museum in Invercargill has preserved Invercargill Birney Safety Car No.16. Recovered from Davaar sheep station near The Key <ref>http://www.ferrymeadtramway.org.nz/downloads/tracts_apr16.pdf<ref>
  in 2015. BRTW have stated that restoration updates will be posted to their Facebook page.
  Otago Early Settlers Museum in Dunedin has a number of former Dunedin Cable Cars and Electric Tramcars in their static collection.
caption: Whangarei: Former Lisbon nos. 526 and 520 (right, back).
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