History: The Maori occupants of the Horouta canoe settled here about 1350 AD. The first documented landing of a European on New Zealand soil occurred here on 9 October 1769 when Captain James Cook of HMS Bark Endeavour stepped ashore and later entered in to a hongi with a local Maori chief. This was first physical meeting of the 2 cultures. more...

Te Kooti was a local Maori who was unjustly accused of involvement with the Pa Maire uprising at Waerenga-o-Hika and subsequently was imprisoned on the Chatham Islands. He later escaped by taking posession of the sailing ship "Rifleman", forcing the crew to sail him and his supporters back to Poverty Bay. He founded a religious faith based on the Old Testament, asking to be left alone to practise his religion. However he was pursued by the authorities which provoked him to conduct a massacre of about 50 residents at Matawhero in 1868. more ....

Ngatapa Pa Site Te Kooti and his followers were besieged at the ancient Ngatapa Pa site at Rere. After escaping they were relentlessly pursued across the North Island for many years before Te Kooti was granted a pardon. more...

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa - the famous opera singer was born in Gisborne and sang at the Millenium Dawn Concert at Midway Beach 01/01/2000 - http://www.answers.com/topic/kiri-te-kanawa

Footrot Flats Gisborne is home to Murray Ball who became famous for his Footrot Flats cartoons.

Beaches, Sun, Sand and Surf. Gisborne is one of the hottest and sunniest places in NZ.
It is a sought after destination for surfers from all around the world.

Whale Rider. The movie "The Whale Rider" was screened in Whangara, about 20km north of Gisborne. Whiti Ihimara, the author of Whale Rider is a share-holder of a big station here.

Stingray Feeding - looking for a special adventure? In Tatapouri you can feed sting-rays.

Shark Cage Diving - Surfit - Adventure Holiday Activities.

Wine Country - in Patutahi have a taste of KEW - Kirkpatrick Estate Winery - All Black Ian Kirkpatrick's clan owns a boutique winery, producing excellent wines.
Millton's is a certified bio organic winery with great range of outstanding wines.
Bushmere Estate - award winning wines, good food and live music in the summer, and many more

More FM Winery Tour- held early February at Brunton Road vineyard.

Rhythm & Vines - is a very popular festival amongst young people, drawing thousands of tourists to Gisborne between Christmas and the New Year and Gisborne turns into a booming metropolitan "kind of thing".

WA 165 - a restored steam train takes you for a short trip to a nearby country school for a kapa haka performance; on the agenda are day trips with stunning coastal scenery and options for on-board live music and entertainment, as well as barbecues, picnics, or even beach olympics on the beach before returning to Gisborne....more

Smash Palace - named after the movie "Smash Palace"- have a cool drink in a hot bar.

E-mail: kittens@manecats.com | Tel. 06 863 9815 | Fax. 06 863 9515 |