The oldest private club in New Zealand, the Wellington Club (Te Pou Maruwehi) was established in December 1841 and sits in the Wellington Club Building at 4/88 The Terrace in central Wellington. Membership is by invitation and needs the support of existing members, and the club admits men and women from many professions. It has more than 1,600 members, according to its website. Its clubhouse spans three floors, with a more formal fifth floor that keeps the club's traditions alive. Members use the club for meetings, private dining, and quiet time. Drake's Acre, a bar and café open to members through the day, has a small balcony over The Terrace for lunch or morning tea. Daily papers and journals are kept in the bar, and the clubhouse has WiFi on all floors.
For functions, the Main Dining Room seats up to 160 for dinners and weddings and holds up to 350 for cocktail receptions. The Morrison Room seats up to 30, and the Wellesley Room, with a private bar, holds up to 60 for a cocktail reception. The Ante Room is used for pre-lunch and pre-dinner drinks, and the Billiard Room has four full-sized slate tables. The Morrison Room looks over The Terrace and has a glimpse of the harbour. A non-member wanting to visit needs a member to sponsor them.