Final Design for our Coat of Arms

A final design of a Coat-of-Arms for the City of Gisborne has been produced by the Coat-of-Arms Committee for submission to the College of Arms in London. The local design, reproduced here, will be submitted to the College for approval along with an application for a Grant of Arms by the Mayor.

A public appeal is being made by the Public Relations Office to raise $690, the fee to the College for a Grant of Arms.

The design features a shield with a reversed Y (representing the joining of the three rivers), and a top rippled panel representing the sea.

The mitre symbolises the establishment of Christianity in the district, and the bull's head the prosperity of our pastoral and agricultural background. The ship, of course, represents the Endeavour and commemorates Cook's landing.

The crest is a sunburst symbolising the fact that Gisborne is the first city in the world on which the sun rises, and our extra sunny climate.

The lions are taken from the Arms of the Gisborne family after whom the city was named in 1868.

The tails symbolise the topography of the area and also the three roads into the district, and the dovetailed collars symbolise the harmony and joining together of Maori and pakeha in the building up of the city.

The whole rests on a "Compartment" which represents the earlier Maori landing and settlement.

The carved "Koruru" head is peculiar to the carving of the Turanga or Gisborne area, while the canoe prow and stern represent the Takitimu and Horouta, the canoes which came here as part of the Great Fleet to establish here the original population of the area.

The design is a great effort and deserves every support.