Riverside lifestyle: The future of Greymouth starts here
by Metropol | October 1, 2025 9:07 am
Be part of Greymouth’s next chapter in a high-quality development built for prestige and performance.
Greymouth Mawhera is undergoing a bold revitalisation. A resurgence of mining with proposed port infrastructure enabling Trans-Tasman trade, has seen the town diversifying into the new sectors of health, medical, hospitality and tourism services.
At the heart of the revitalisation is Whare Rua, a new four-storey, mixed-use building located at 2 Richmond Quay featuring premium commercial leasing opportunities, flexible spaces, and residential apartment living.
Designed by RM Designs, Whare Rua is built for performance, presence, and prestige. Strategically located on the riverfront and adjacent to civic developments, the new future-focused, architecturally designed, mixed-use complex is set to become a destination for innovation, enterprise, and quality living.
Developed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Arahura Holding, the development is a flagship project for the town, aiming to revitalise Greymouth’s CBD by creating functional spaces, attracting investment, and reflecting the pride and ambition of the community.
Along with the recent library development, it begins to bring to life the community’s vision for a cohesive and revitalised CBD.
“Greymouth is evolving fast, and Whare Rua sits at the centre of this transformation,” says project manager Sam Summerton of Smart Project Management.
“The reasons to live and work on the Coast have been driven by nature, trails and raw wilderness. The town centre is now responding to the revitalisation with good eateries, crafts, medical facilities, retailers and hospitality. Accompanied with a strong sense of community and lower cost of living, there has never been a better time to consider Greymouth. Whare Rua offers the opportunity to live and work amongst this with unparalleled views from the green hills that surround the town, to the river and beyond to the Mawhera bar and Tasman Sea,” Sam says.
Chairman of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, Francois Tumahai, says many jobs and opportunities have already come from the planning phases of the development, and further jobs will follow with the construction of the building.
“This is a building that people will be proud of,” he says. “When we contribute to the wider economy of our community, we are just doing our job.”
Whare Rua offers flexible lease spaces, making it ideal for professional services, apartment living, hospitality, and retail. On track to be complete in 2027, expressions of interest for the commercial and residential spaces are now being accepted.
Contact Sam Summerton on 021 0277 5243 or sam@smartpm.co.nz.
Key features of Whare Rua
- Design: mass timber structure, modern and sustainable.
- Brand new library and retail complex steps away.
- Landscaping: 200m2 native planting, cycle hoops, and decorative paving.
- Floor levels: commercial and residential options.
- About 280m2 per floor of flexible, light-filled commercial space.
- Ground floor: suited to retail, hospitality, or client-facing businesses.
- First floor: ideal for offices, professional services, healthcare, or studios.
- Shared lobbies, accessible toilets, lift and stair access.
- Full-width curtain wall glazing for maximum views and exposure.
- High-quality finishes, mechanical ventilation, and service access.
- On-site parking: 15 spaces + one accessible
Lifestyle boom on the West Coast
- Pounamu Pathway tourism experience and TranzAlpine enhancements
- Expanded food, arts, and visitor economy
- Medical and industry momentum
- New Te Nīkau Hospital and medical hubs and aged care projects underway
- Mining sector on the charge, creating employment and housing demand
- Affordable housing: median house price $350,000
- Walkable town centre, mountain views, and riverside living
- High-speed internet, minimal traffic, and growing job base.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/riverside-lifestyle-the-future-of-greymouth-starts-here/