A sterling silver medal measuring 23mm in diameter and weighing 6.28g, the medal is not hallmarked but tests as sterling. The medal is somewhat worn with the design just visible. The medal was created by the New Zealand silversmith Siegried Kohn with engraving by Alfred Cousins.
The front of the medal originally showed a sailing ship and steamers at Queens Wharf centre and left, steamer with smoke coming from funnel approaching from right centre, a rowing four with cox in right foreground, floating buoy left foreground, Mount Kaukau and Western Hutt hills in background but little of this can now be made out.
The reverse showed a view of Wellington Harbour, looking towards Somes Island and the head of the harbour from present site of Wellington City, with a lone sailing ship in centre foreground [presumably the NZ Company’s ‘Aurora’] meeting a Maori canoe in right foreground, and with the sun rising from behind the Eastern Hutt hills in the background. The ship can just be made out with hills behind.
