Gisborne Mug

Gisborne is a city situated on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island that is generally known for being 'the first to see the light'. It's original name was Turanganui-a-Kiwa (the standing place of Kiwa) who is a well-known Polynesian ancestor to the local iwi (tribes). But this changed with the arrival of European colonists who after the New Zealand Wars (1843-1872) renamed it after William Gisborne, who was colonial secretary of New Zealand before returning home to his European homeland (United Kingdom). One who is not prejudice will find it amazing that they would name the region after a foreigner who has no historical significance to the region nor to the indigenous people. The local Maori tribes of Gisborne are Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata and Ngai Tamanuhiri with neighboring tribes such as Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Rongomaiwahine, Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngati Porou. It is populated by indigenous Maori who are commonly stereotyped as pot-smoking, dole bludgers and whites (Europeans/Pakeha) population who are almost completely ignorant of the region's history (with the exception of Captain James Cook's arrival in 1769 and a treaty signed at Waitangi in 1840). A lovely place if ignorant but horrible if historically accurate.