He was initially secretary to Edward John Eyre, the lieutenant governor of New Munster Province.

He was then appointed commissioner of Crown lands, a role for which he moved to New Zealand's capital, Auckland.

[2] Gisborne married Caroline Gertrude Bridgen at St Mary's Church in the Auckland suburb of Parnell, and the couple had four children (one son, three daughters).

He resigned from the position in 1869 and left the civil service to take on the role of Colonial Secretary in the third Fox Ministry.

[4] In December 1875, Gisborne was a strong candidate for the Wellington mayoralty, but he fell out with the public over him favouring denominational education.

In addition, he then announced himself as a candidate for the 1875 general election in the City of Wellington electorate, and that triggered a concerted effort to find a suitable mayoral opponent.