Gisborne is the name of a unitary authority in New Zealand, being both a region and a district. Gisborne is named for an early Colonial Secretary William Gisborne. The council is located in the city of Gisborne.
The region is located in the northeastern corner of the North Island and is also referred to as the East Cape or East Coast or Eastland region. It is a sparsely inhabited and isolated region, with small settlements mainly clinging to small bays along the eastern shore including Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay. The population of the region is about 45,000, with almost three quarters of those living in the city of Gisborne. No other settlement has a population of over 1000. The largest other settlements are the towns of Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria, each with populations of over 800 in 2001. |