top of page
STORIES
Explore
Gisborne
Stories
Discover editorial Gisborne stories, local perspectives, coastal culture, beaches, lifestyle, opinion pieces and in-depth articles that capture the atmosphere, character and everyday life of Gisborne.
Discover Gisborne Through Local Stories
Gisborne is more than a collection of attractions. It's a place shaped by beaches, surf culture, vineyards, local characters, hidden coastal roads and a pace of life that feels different from much of New Zealand.
Browse by category to discover local guides, beach recommendations, food experiences, wellness ideas, events, accommodation and stories that capture the atmosphere of the city.
Whether you're planning your first visit or looking for inspiration for your next weekend adventure, you'll find practical advice, local insights and detailed articles designed to help you experience more of Gisborne.
Rhythm & Vines 2027: Can Waikato Replace Gisborne's Magic?
Rhythm & Vines are likely to swap one of New Zealand's most iconic summer destinations to a former sand quarry in the Waikato. The festival: Rhythm & Vines Original home: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne Possible new home: Hooker Road, Tamahere, near Hamilton Proposed setting: Former sand quarry surrounded by Waikato farmland Potential capacity: Up to 30,000 festivalgoers Final Gisborne festival: 28 to 31 December 2026 Proposed relocation: 2027, subject to confirmation and necessary
Cedar House, Gisborne: Historic Boutique Luxury
Cedar House, Boutique Accommodation in Gisborne NZ. Cedar House, Gisborne Location: 4 Clifford Street, Whataupoko, Gisborne Distance from CBD: Approximately 5 to 10 minutes’ walk Phone: 021 441 622 Website: www.cedarhouse.nz Accommodation: Boutique guest rooms and self-contained houses Facilities: Heated saltwater swimming pool, outdoor spa, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking Best for: Romantic weekends, heritage lovers, couples, special occasions and visitors who appre
Dinner by the River Gisborne | Food Trucks & Fun
Dinner by the River, Marina Park, Gisborne NZ. Location: Marina Park, Gisborne 4010 When: Usually the third Saturday of each month Time: 4pm to 7pm Facebook: Dinner by the River Gizzy Entry: Free, food and drinks purchased separately Food & Drink: Independent food trucks, street food and tempting treats Best For: Food lovers, families, indecisive couples, supporting local businesses and anyone looking for an excellent excuse not to cook. Contact: events@anlocollective.com Goo
BMS - Boutique on Main Street, Gisborne
BMS - Boutique on Main Street, CBD, Gisborne NZ. Location: 22 Gladstone Road, Gisborne CBD Phone: (06) 867 8424 Website: www.boutiqueonmainstreet.co.nz Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm | Saturday, 9am–2pm | Public holidays, 10am–2pm Items Sold: Women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, designer clothing, casual wear, footwear, handbags, jewellery, sunglasses, hats and accessories. Best For: Discovering fashion labels, wardrobe updates, designer pieces, unexpected finds a
Evolution on Gladstone: Gisborne Style
Evolution on Gladstone, CBD, Gisborne NZ. Address: 71 Gladstone Road, Gisborne CBD Phone: (06) 867 9302 Website: www.evolutionongladstone.co.nz Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm | Saturday, 10am–3pm (check before visiting) Items Sold: Women’s fashion, dresses, tops, skirts, trousers, knitwear, jackets, casualwear, handbags and fashion accessories. Best For: Boutique fashion, feminine styles, colourful dresses, wardrobe updates, affordable fashion finds and independent
Tatapouri Bay Café: Peak Gisborne Summer
Tatapouri Bay Cafe, Tatapouri, Gisborne NZ. Location: 516 Whangara Road, Tatapouri, Gisborne Distance from Gisborne CBD: Approximately 12 km, a 15-minute coastal drive Phone: 06 868 3269 Website: www.tatapouri.co.nz/cafe Coffee & Food: Locally roasted Far East Coffee, baked treats, bagels, light café fare and real fruit ice creams. Seasonal offerings may vary. Best for: Beachfront coffee, relaxed weekend mornings, ocean views, sunrise yoga, live music and a proper taste of th
Terry Clark: Gisborne's Infamous Mr Big
A chilling picture of Terry Clark at the peak of his criminal career, Gisborne NZ. Terry Clark: Gisborne’s Notorious Mr Asia Birthplace: Gisborne, New Zealand Born: 12 November 1944 at the Edward Murphy Memorial Home a maternity hospital, Aberdeen Road, Gisborne Childhood Family homes: Wainui Road & Palmerston Road, Gisborne Died: 11 August 1983, aged 38, in HM Prison Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, England Full name: Terrence John Clark Known aliases: Alexander James Sinclair, Ter
Hello Petal, Gisborne: Independent Boutique Shopping
Hello Petal, Gladstone Road, Gisborne NZ Address: 24 Gladstone Road, Gisborne Phone: 027 252 4084 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello_petal_gisborne Opening Hours: Mon & Tues 10am ~ 4pm Wed ~ Fri 10am ~ 5pm Sat 10am ~ 2pm Sunday closed. Best For: Independent boutique shopping, individual style, unexpected finds and a little Gisborne personality. Independent, individual and delightfully Gisborne There is something rather satisfying about discovering a shop you weren’t p
Muirs Bookshop: A Gisborne Original Since 1905
Muirs Bookshop, Gisborne CBD, Gladstone Road, Gisborne NZ. Muirs Bookshop, Gisborne Location: Muirs Bookshop 136B Gladstone Road, Gisborne 4010 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm; Sunday closed. Phone: 06 867 9741 Website: www.muirsbookshop.co.nz Established: 1905, more than 120 years of bookselling in Gisborne Appeals to: Book lovers, independent-shop enthusiasts, history buffs, families, gift hunters, curious travellers and anyone who enjoys
The Workshop Gisborne: Anything But Ordinary
The Workshop, Carnarvon Street, Gisborne NZ Location: 73 Carnarvon Street, Gisborne 4010 Phone: 021 851 829 Website: www.theworkshopgizzy.com Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm; Saturday, 10am to 1pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. Specialities: Furniture, vintage rugs, distinctive homewares, gifts, interior styling and coffee. Best for: Design lovers, gift hunters, independent shopping, home inspiration and visitors looking for something different in Gisborne. Some sho
Salt of Earth: Gisborne's Natural Sense of Style
Salt of Earth, Grey Street, Gisborne NZ Salt • Of Earth, Gisborne Address: 93 Grey Street, Gisborne 4010 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays. Phone: 027 244 7742 Website: www.saltofearth.co.nz Specialities: Handmade ceramics, natural skincare, independent fashion labels, homewares, accessories, children's clothing and gifts. Appeals to: Lovers of natural materials, independent shops, thoughtful gifts, slow fa
Sports Fishing Competition: White Pointer Boats 35th Anniversary
The WP40, an example of the hand-built aluminium sport fishing boats made by White Pointer Boats in Gisborne NZ. White Pointer Boats 35th Anniversary Sports Fishing Competition When: Wednesday 10 to Sunday 14 February 2027 Where: Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, 54 Esplanade, Inner Kaiti, Gisborne 4010 Entry: NZD $150 per person Entry limit: 100 boats Categories: Marlin and shortbill spearfish, broadbill swordfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, kingfish and snapper Prizes: First, s
Gisborne Weather LIVE Webcam
Forget the forecast. Look out the window. Gisborne has a complicated relationship with weather forecasts. The forecast says rain. The sun comes out. The forecast says sunshine. Someone in Auckland rings to ask if we're surviving the storm. And occasionally, the weather forecast is absolutely correct, which takes everyone by surprise. So we've decided to take the guesswork out of it. We have shared a Gisborne Live Weather Cam, broadcasting from Teal Motor Lodge, near the city
Gisborne District Council’s Hotel Obsession
The impressive new buildings of the Gisborne District Council, Gisborne NZ There is an old hotel-industry adage: “The first owner loses money. The second owner breaks even. And the third owner makes money.” Gisborne appears to have been testing this theory for about 30 years. It began in the late 1990s when Gisborne District Council bought the former Heinz Wattie site. Council had big ambitions for the waterfront, and hotel and a conference centre featured among the developme
World Surf League Returns to Gisborne in 2027
Gisborne Surfer enjoying early morning bliss, Wainui, Gisborne NZ World Surf League Gisborne 2027 Dates: 23–29 March 2027 Location: Gisborne surf beaches, final competition locations depend on conditions Event: Tairāwhiti Pro, Gisborne Competition: WSL QS 4000 + Pro Junior Competitors: More than 200 expected Host: East Coast Surfriders Spectators: Public spectator opportunities expected More details: Further event and community information will be announced closer to competit
MV Takitimu: Historic Gisborne Boat Cruise
An historic boat cruise experience on the MV Takitumu, pictured with Young Nick's Head in the background. Gisborne NZ. Location: Pier 1, Inner Harbour, Gisborne Season: Public sailings are generally in the warmer months from October Cruise duration: Approximately 1¼ hours Indicative public cruise price: Adults/college age $25, younger passengers $15 Phone: 027 539 3303 Bookings: Recommended, with sailings weather-dependent Website: MV Takitimu Facebook Page There are easier w
Koco Boutique: Big Style, Gisborne Pace
Koco Boutique. A delightful curated range of woman's fashion and homeware on Gladstone Road, Gisborne NZ Address: 126 Gladstone Road, Gisborne 4010 Phone: 021 320 883 Website: kocoboutique.co.nz Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 5pm Sat 10:00am - 2:00pm Sun Closed Koco Boutique is the sort of shop that makes you stop halfway down Gladstone Road and remember you meant to buy a birthday present. Twenty minutes later, you’re trying on a jacket and wondering whether your lounge needs a
Getting Around with Gisborne Airport and City Taxi
Gisborne Airport and City Taxi. A highly rated local service making airport and city travel refreshingly easy. Bookings/Phone: 022 586 7732 Alternative phone: 022 377 6420 Address: 2 Oates Street, Gisborne 4010 Hours: 4:45am to 10:00pm, 7 days a week Website: Gisborne Airport and City Taxi Email: gogisborne@slingshot.co.nz Services: Airport transfers, local Gisborne taxi trips, dinner transfers, business transport and sightseeing trips. Gisborne Airport and City Taxi: The E
Gisborne Visitors Are Spending More, Staying Less
Solitude at Makorori Beach watching the sun rise from the ocean. Gisborne NZ. Something interesting is happening in Gisborne tourism. In the year to June 2026, estimated visitor spending across the Gisborne destination reached approximately $103.8 million, up 10.3% from $94.1 million the previous year. Nationally, visitor spending increased by 4.6%. So far, so good. But over the same period, recorded commercial guest nights in Gisborne fell 7.6%, from approximately 323,700 to
What Problem is Gisborne's New City-Centre Revitalisation Solving?
Reads Quay with Emerald Hotel's carpark overlooking the Taruheru River. Visitors arriving at the river end of Gladstone Road could be forgiven for thinking they had found one of Gisborne’s more pleasant corners. River views. Wide streets. Easy parking. A hotel, restaurants and local businesses. Naturally, someone decided it needed fixing. Trust Tairāwhiti has acquired the Emerald Hotel, Victoria Plaza and several neighbouring properties. Nearby, Gisborne Holdings Ltd, the com
bottom of page