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

One of the main exhibitions of the Museum is the theme of the tragedy of the ferry Wahine (Pere.with Polynesian "girl, woman"). In April 1968, occurred the most disastrous hurricane off the coast of New Zealand, which was the cause of the collapse of a large new passenger ferry Wahine on their way from Littleton to Wellington. That day was the strongest in the history of New Zealand wind - 275 km/h. This hurricane, which was subsequently given the name Giselle, drove the ferry Wahine, which the ship ran head on Barrett reef, dragged him into the Bay and ferry capsized. On Board were 75 cars, four trucks and most importantly - 734, of which 611 passengers and 123 crew member. Despite the fact that the tragedy occurred very close to shore, many appearing on the land are unable to survive hypothermia and injuries, 52 people were killed. This day went down in history of New Zealand as "the day of the Wahine disaster". All the items, newspaper clippings reporting on the incident, all that is left for the disaster, is now kept in the Museum of Wellington city. There are also items from the life of the Maori Indians who inhabited the land of New Zealand to the first emigrants.

Movies about early Wellington and tall sailing ships are shown on a huge screen the size of a three storey house.

The Museum regularly organizes meetings, events, tourist routes are implemented on Wellington Harbour. For school organizes special programs related to the school program.