Museum of Wellington City is located in a historic building in 1892. The building was designed by architect Frederick Jersey Clair, who was one of the most sought-after architects of the late 19th - early 20th centuries in New Zealand.

One of the main exhibits of the museum is the subject of the tragedy of the ferry Wahine (lane . with Polynesian "girl, woman") .  In April 1968 there was the most catastrophic hurricane off the coast of New Zealand, which caused the collapse of a large new passenger ferry Wahine, sailing from Littleton to Wellington .  That day was the strongest recorded in the history of New Zealand, the wind - 275 km / h .  This hurricane, which was later given the name of Gisele, knocked off course the ferry Wahine, which is why the vessel bottom stumbled on Barrett Reef, dragged him into the bay and the ferry overturned .  On board were 75 cars, four trucks, and most importantly - 734 people, including 611 passengers and 123 crew members .  Despite the fact that the tragedy occurred very close to the shore, many swim ashore could not survive hypothermia and injuries, 52 people were killed .  This day went down in history of New Zealand as a "day of catastrophe Wahine" .  All articles, newspaper clippings, report the incident, all that remained of the disaster, is now kept at the Museum of Wellington City .  Also, there are objects from the life of the Maori Indians, who inhabited the land of New Zealand before the first immigrants . 

Movies about Wellington early and high sailing ships are shown on a giant screen the size of a three-storey house.

The museum regularly hosts meetings, events, tourist routes implemented by the Wellington Harbour. For school organizes special programs associated with the school program.