Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, ONZ, AC, DBE, (born March 6, 1944) is an internationally famous New Zealand opera singer. In 1981, she was seen and heard around the world by an estimated 600 million people when she sang Handel's "Let the Bright Seraphim" at the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. Te Kanawa was born in Gisborne, on New Zealand's North Island.

Meng Liu Foon is the current mayor of Gisborne, New Zealand. He is of one of only two people of Chinese descent to have become a mayor in New Zealand. He is fluent in English, Chinese (Cantonese) and Mori.

William Gisborne (13 August 1825 - 7 January 1898) was New Zealand Colonial Secretary 1869-1872 and Minister of Public Works 1870-1871. The city of Gisborne is named after him.

Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader and the founder of the Ringatu religion. Te Kooti's early years are obscure. He was born in the Gisborne region. In 1865 Te Kooti fought for the government forces suppressing the local Māori Pai Marire. However, he was arrested as a spy and exiled to the Chatham Islands, together with the rebels he had been fighting against. He was never tried and took every opportunity to demand a trial, some say he got his name from this, …

Professor Vaughan Frederick Randal Jones DCNZM (born 31 December 1952) is a New Zealand mathematician, known for his work on von Neumann algebras, knot polynomials and conformal field theory. He was awarded a Fields Medal in 1990, and famously wore a New Zealand rugby jersey when he accepted the prize. Jones is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and a Distinguished Alumni Professor at the University of Auckland.

Janet Elsdon Mackey (June 14, 1953 -) is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the Labour Party. She was first elected to Parliament in the 1993 elections, winning the seat of Gisborne. In the 1996 elections, she won the newly created seat of Mahia, and in the 1999 elections and 2002 elections, she won the seat of East Coast. In 2003, she was joined in Parliament by her daughter, Moana Mackey. She has announced her intent to retire at the 2005 elections.

The Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Lewis is the elder daughter of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and The Duchess of Gloucester, née Birgitte Eva Henriksen (later van Deurs). She is currently 21st in the line of succession to the British throne. She was born Lady Davina Windsor at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London. Lady Davina was educated at Kensington Preparatory School in Notting Hill, followed by St. George's School, Ascot in Ascot, …

Eric Honeywood Partridge was a noted New Zealand/British lexicographer of the English language, particularly of its slang. Partridge was born near Waimata Valley, Gisborne, on the North Island of New Zealand to John Thomas Partridge, a grazier, and his wife Ethel Norris. In 1907 the family moved to Brisbane, Australia, where he was educated at the Toowoomba Grammar School. He then studied first Classics and then French and English at the University of Queensland.

Kelly Graeme Evernden (born September 21, 1962 in Gisborne) is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand, who turned professional in 1985. Evernden won his first tour doubles title in 1986 at Cologne. His first top-level singles title came in 1987 at Bristol. His best singles performance at a Grand Slam event came at the 1987 Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals before being knocked-out by Wally Masur.

Moana Lynore Mackey (born 28 February 1974) is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the governing Labour Party. Mackey entered Parliament on 29 July 2003, having been the next candidate on Labour's party list when Graham Kelly vacated his seat. She is the daughter of Janet Mackey, who until 2005 was also a Labour MP - the two were the first mother-daughter team in Parliament. In the elections that year, Janet Mackey retired from politics, …

George Nepia was a Māori rugby union and rugby league player. He is remembered as an exceptional full-back and one of the most famous Māori rugby players. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2005 he was selected as number 65 by the panel of the New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers television show. Nepia was born in Wairoa in Hawkes Bay. While his birth certificate stated that Nepia was born 1905 he later claimed he had been born in 1908.

Jackie Clarke is a New Zealand singer, actress and comedian. She was born in Gisborne, New Zealand and has a twin sister. In her youth Clarke attended Gisborne Girls' High School and left Gisborne to pursue her career on stage. She is not to be confused with New York City comedienne and radio host, Jackie Clarke, referred to in Wikipedia as Jackie Clarke (NYC). She is a member of singing comedian trio When The Cats Been Spayed, …

Graham William Sligo (born December 24, 1954 in Gisborne, New Zealand) is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who was a member of the national team that finished seventh at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Bob Clarkson, CNZM (born 1939 in Gisborne) is the MP for Tauranga in the Parliament of New Zealand. He is a member of the National Party and is currently married to his second wife of 18 years, Martha Clarkson with two daughters and three grandchildren.

Amanda Gilles is a 3 News reporter. She was raised in Gisborne, New Zealand and attended Campion College.

Carl Doy, born May 6 1947 in England, is a pianist, composer and arranger. One of New Zealand's most successful musicians, Carl is probably best known for his multi-platinum selling "Piano By Candlelight" albums. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang his arrangement of "E te Tarakihi" from Gisborne in the first live broadcast of the new millennium, to a worldwide television audience of over a hundred million people.

John "Jock" Aird (born December 18 1926, in Glencraig, Fife) is a Scottish-born former footballer who played for both the Scotland and New Zealand national sides. Aird started his professional career with Burnley, whom he joined from Perth junior side Jeanfield Swifts in 1948. A feisty but consistent left-back, he earned international recognition towards the end of his seven-season spell at Turf Moor, making his Scotland debut against Norway in May 1954, at the age of 28.

Marie-Adele McArthur is a soprano, from Gisborne, New Zealand. She is a direct descendent of paramount Māori chief, Te Hapuku. She lives in the United States and is recognised as a highly talented singer specializing mainly in roles from Verdi operas.