Wellington has always tried hard to promote itself to both New Zealand and International tourists. Lacking the exoticness of Rotorua's boiling mud pools or the grandeur of Queenstown's mountains, the capital city has often concentrated on showcasing its arts, retail opportunities and national institutions such as Te Papa and the Parliament Buildings (along with unique quirks such as the Cable Car).
This selection of tourist guides to Wellington published over a 150 year period give a fascinating insight in to how the city has promoted itself and how the image projected has changed over the decades.