The Wellington Heritage Trails are a series of guided walks with associated pamphlets and information boards created between 1996 and 2004. Suitable routes were selected and the publication of pamphlets and signs were organised by the Wellington Heritage Trails Committee consisting of Oroya Day, Saille Hill, Ken Scadden & Con Flinkenberg. Originally produced to help guide walkers along a set path of historic discovery before the widespread use of smartphones, today they also provide a useful summary of the history of specific areas. They were all produced to a set design created by the New Zealand Heritage Trails Foundation which was founded in Taranaki in 1989. The organisation was originally funded by one-off subscriptions from councils as part of their tourism role following the 1989 local body reorganisation instigated by the 4th Labour Government. The foundation provided detailed policy and guidance on setting up trails which included the design, style and presentation of signs, heritage information boards & brochures. Unfortunately, the funding of the Heritage Trails Foundation eventually ran out and it fell into recess though many councils continue to provide trails which follow the original format though new editions with new designs were also produced.
