Gisborne

Gisborne is a city of approximately 32,700 inhabitants and is the administrative headquarters of the Unitary Authority Gisborne.  Therefore both the region and the Gisborne District share the name Gisborne.

Due to its location – Gisborne is the easternmost region of New Zealand – the area is often called Eastland or East Coast.  The territory of East Cape is near the easternmost point of New Zealand and the Gisborne region itself.
Off the coast, the region is dominated by hills, most of which are forested.  In the western parts of the region lie both the Te Urewera National Park and the Kaingaroa Forest, one of the largest contiguous forested areas in the northern island.
In the center of the vast mountain region runs the low mountain chain of Huirau, part of the Raukumara Range.  It runs from the northeast back to the southwest.  The highest point is Mount Hikurangi, which is 1,620 meters high and located in the extreme northeast of the district.
Because of its proximity to the International Date Line, the first mountain range of Hikurangi beholds the dawn of a sunny day.  Roughly the same is true with the city of Gisborne.  Although both Suva, the capital of Fiji, as well as Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga are closer to this limit, because of the inclination of the Earth the sun is more likely to be seen first in Gisborne.
The Hawke’s Bay region, more precisely the Wairoa District, joins Gisborne to the south, while to the west of Gisborne lies the Bay of Plenty region, more precisely the Opotiki District.
Climate
The Gisborne region has a warm, relatively dry climate, particularly in the mountainous areas in the Huirau.

History
In the tradition of the Maori, the demigod Maui fished the entire North Island of New Zealand from the Pacific Ocean.  Because of the huge landmass of the island, Maui’s canoe capsized and is now Mount Hikurangi, where “the first of the warm rays of the rising sun will be kissed.”
The Gisborne region saw the first landing of Europeans in New Zealand.  In 1769 Captain James Cook sailed into Poverty Bay and landed on October 8 at the mouth of the Turanganui River.
Inhabitants
Approximately 45% of the population is descended from the Maori.  This proportion is significantly higher than the New Zealand-wide average of approximately 15%.  In the more remote areas, those of Maori origin are sometimes more than half the population.
The city of Gisborne is situated on the northern shore of the Poverty Bay, approximately at the place where James Cook first entered New Zealand.  In the southwest portion of the bay there is an area of cliffs designated by the locals as “Young Nick’s Head.”

Three independent rivers flow through the city, helping to give Gisborne City the nickname “City of Rivers.”  East of the city area is Kaiti Hill, a hill that is both a recreation area as well as a vantage point overlooking the entire surrounding region, including the city.

In the fairly sparsely populated region, which from 2001 to 2004 suffered a decline in population of over one percent, the city of Gisborne has some 1,500 settlements.  Next to it is Ruatoria, with a population of no more than 1,000 inhabitants.

Economy
An important pillar of the economy of the region is wine production.  Not without reason, Gisborne is also known as Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand.  This is especially true in the coastal areas, where most of the vineyards and orchards operate.