Section 2.

You will hear a radio announcer describing a city in New Zealand called Gisborne.

Greetings to all you listeners out there. This is National Radio, and I’m Kevin Lowe. This morning, I’m going to tell you what’s so special about the laid-back city of Gisborne.

You’ll hear a little about its past in the old days, and much more about the attractions it has to offer both foreign and domestic visitors today. So listen up to learn more about what there is to do in this city and its surrounding region, where the economy is booming but the lifestyle remains unspoiled.

The Gisborne region is where the legendary canoe sailed by Māori explorers first landed in New Zealand about fourteen hundred years ago, after a long and risky voyage across the sea. It is also the easternmost point of the country, which inspired its original name, Te Tarafiti, meaning in the Māori language “the coast where the sun rises across the waters”.

Gisborne was also the place where the European explorer Captain Cook first landed his boat after discovering New Zealand, all the way from England in 1769. Even in those early days, the district was a centre of horticulture, thanks to its fertile soil and subtropical climate.

Soon after that, English settlers arrived, and Gisborne began shipping its products to larger settlements such as Auckland and Wellington. This trade began with maize and root crops, but quickly expanded to butter, meat and wool from the agricultural settlements in the rich pastoral land near the famous Poverty Bay.

Wharves and jetties were built beside the sea to service coastal traders, and many of these wooden structures can still be seen on Gisborne beaches today.

Today, Gisborne continues to export fresh produce to other regions of New Zealand. These goods include various award-winning cheeses, as well as delicious lobsters and snapper fish harvested by hand from the local reefs and waters. For Asian markets, there is an increasing demand for the region’s oranges and lemons.

Gisborne is also becoming well known both nationally and internationally as a source of top-quality white and red grapes.

Now, what’s on in Gisborne? First up, there’s the annual Gisborne concert, held every summer. This is a great experience. It takes place at Waiahekea Vineyard, near the traditional Māori meeting house, or marae, of the same name.

A pianist and opera singers perform on a purpose-built stage in a kind of natural amphitheatre, right in the middle of the rows of grapevines. It creates a fantastic concert atmosphere and makes for a really enjoyable night out.

So what can you do on a rainy day? I’d recommend visiting the exhibition called The Beach, which is on at Gallery One in the Tarafiti Museum. It’s a large display that also uses the hall next to the gallery, and it’s divided into different sections of local culture, including surfing, camping, fashion and more. If you buy the exhibition book, you’ll find some very interesting photographs inside.

There’s plenty more to see in Gisborne as well. You shouldn’t miss the Hot Springs Reserve, which features warm natural mineral pools and small houses where you can stay among the bush. Because it’s very secluded and private, this resort is especially popular with newlyweds, who often book a cabin for their honeymoon.

The water there is also considered very therapeutic and is believed to be good for your health, although it’s not recommended for pregnant women or the elderly.

Just around the corner is the Mahia Peninsula, famous as a New Year’s Eve party destination for large crowds of university students celebrating after graduation. Surfing and fishing there are excellent, and it’s also a safe spot for swimming and diving.

Another activity that’s particularly good for children is taking a raft or jet-boat ride on the Motu River. It may sound quite wild, but in fact it’s frequently used by local primary schools, which bring large groups of children there for fun during school camps. No parents are required, as the activity is much safer than it sounds and is carefully supervised by the rafting company.

Finally, don’t forget Eden Woodlands Park, which is essentially a huge tree nursery. You can walk for hours through the peaceful green surroundings along a variety of tracks. There’s even a wide walkway suitable for wheelchairs, so everyone can enjoy nature at its best.