Auckland and Wellington were early rivals for capital city status. Auckland won this prize in 1840 and its status was proclaimed in this depiction produced two years later. The notable buildings of the new town are indicated by number (below the image), as is ‘A native chief in his canoe’ shown in the forefront.

While the scene depicts little more than a township, the use of the word 'city' in the title shows the hand of a booster. It was deliberately chosen to convey the impression that this is what the settlement would become.