‘Nau mai, haere mai’: Gisborne declares itself world’s best place for digital nomads
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Gisborne aims to welcome remote workers by becoming the first NZ region to actively attract them.
Its campaign promotes working from beaches, cafés, vineyards in Gisborne for creativity.
Its regional tourism organisation said it was well set up to welcome visitors with short-term accommodation options.
Gisborne is claiming the self-declared title of the world’s best shared office, to attract digital nomads.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne is the first region to launch a campaign to attract remote workers following the Government’s announcement to allow visitors to work remotely in the country.
Travellers will be allowed to stay in New Zealand and work for clients or companies based overseas, without breaching visa conditions, for up to 90 days, with the possibility to extend up to nine months.
Gisborne, renowned for its coastal lifestyle, friendly locals, sunny weather and natural attractions, wanted to show off its “better work-life balance”.
The campaign enticed remote workers to “Work from beachfront cafés, take scenic walks between meetings and enjoy an authentic off-the-beaten-path Kiwi experience.” and noted that as the first city in the world to see the sunrise, “no matter where your head office is located, you’ll always be the first one online.”
Doug Jones, chief executive of regional tourism organisation Trust Tairāwhiti, said Gisborne’s natural beauty and relaxed pace made it the perfect destination for digital nomads.
“Within five to 10 minutes of the city centre, we have world-class surf beaches, stunning hiking trails, and a diverse range of eateries and wineries. Anyone who lives in Tairāwhiti Gisborne knows our place is one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets, and this campaign is about sharing that secret with international travellers who can stay longer in our region, encouraging them to work from here for a while and be part of our growing community”.
The city of roughly 40,000 people has several shared-working facilities, like RTRO co-working space and Trust Tairāwhiti said it was well set up to welcome visitors with a range of short-term accommodation options such as Whispering Sands, Matawhero Luxury Cabins, Black House Studio, Hinterland Retreat or Cedar House.
The campaign encouraged potential digital nomads to “set up at a beachfront picnic table, settle into a cosy café, or find a sunny spot in a vineyard and let the creativity flow” as local favourites like Tatapouri Bay, Flagship Eatery, Curbside Kitchen, Sunshine Brewery and Matawhero Winery.
“We hope this campaign will not only boost our local economy but also promote cultural exchange and global connections,” said Jones.
“By relaxing the rules for foreign visitors to work remotely, the New Zealand Government is supporting more international business connections. We want this for Tairāwhiti, and by becoming the first region in New Zealand to actively campaign to attract remote workers, we’re ensuring they feel welcome in our place – nau mai, haere mai.”
Do you think Gisborne is a good place for remote workers? Would you work there? Let us know in the comments?