Founded in 1901 as the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. In 1906 the Tourist and Heath Resort Act was passed which estbalished the functions of the department and designated specific areas as reserves under departmental control.
In 1909, the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts became the Tourist Branch of the Commerce and Tourist Division, Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Tourists. Then in July 1912 the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts separated from the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and again became the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.
In April 1930 the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, the Department of Industries and Commerce, and the Publicity Office (part of the Department of Internal Affairs) were amalgamated as the Department of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity, and existed in two divisions - Industries and Commerce, and Tourists, Health Resorts and Publicity.
In 1945 the Department of Tourists and Health Resorts regained its identity as a single entity until 1950, when the Information Services, National Publicity Studios, and the National Film Unit were all incorporated with the Department of Tourists and Health Resorts to form its Publicity Division. In 1954, the title of this agency was confirmed as the Tourist and Publicity Department.
Its purpose was to promote travel to and within New Zealand by providing a booking services, developing tourist facilties and managing publically owned scenic assets. Services were delivered through department offices in overseas locations and Government Tourist Bureaus and agencies within New Zealand. The department also ran hotels located at major domestic scenic travel destinations. In 1955 the control of these hotels passed to a Tourist Hotel Corporation. In 1963, the Tourist and Publicity Department Act was passed, setting out the principal functions of the department.
In 1991 the Tourist and Publicity Department was replaced by the New Zealand Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism.