It is bounded by mountain ranges to the west, rugged country to the south, and faces east onto the Pacific Ocean.

More recently, it has been called Eastland, although that can also include Ōpōtiki in the eastern Bay of Plenty to the northwest, and Wairoa to the south.

[6] Its Māori name Te Tai Rāwhiti means the Coast of the Sunrise,[8] reflecting the fact that it is the first part of the New Zealand mainland to see the sun rise.

It ranges from the Wharerata Hills in the south, which divide it from Wairoa District in Hawke's Bay, to Lottin Point in the north.

The western boundary runs along the Raukumara Range, which separates it from Ōpōtiki District.

Regarded as sacred by Māori, there is some justification to the claims that this is the first mountain to see the sun in summer.

The predominant iwi are Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.

One death was reported (a heart attack of an elderly woman, sustained during the quake) plus minor injuries.

[10] The region is sheltered by high country to the west and has a dry, sunny climate.

The results were 56.5% European (Pākehā); 54.8% Māori; 5.6% Pasifika; 3.8% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

Other towns and settlements in the Gisborne district include: The subnational gross domestic product (GDP) of the Gisborne region was estimated at NZ$2.16 billion in the year to March 2019, 0.7% of New Zealand's national GDP.

[17] There are a number of notable creative people from the Gisborne region, including writer Witi Ihimaera, opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and actor George Henare.

In 2020, this included a series of light installations along the river in Gisborne city showcasing ten local artists.