$24m Greymouth library opens to the public with sweeping views of the river

Friday, 3 July 2026

Greymouth’s new $24 million waterfront library opens to the public on Friday, with sweeping views of the Grey River and twice the floor space of the previous facility.

The Richmond Quay facility includes a children’s indoor playground, a young adult area, bookable meeting and study rooms, a parents’ room, a creative space, self-check kiosks and a collection of 30,000 items.

The ground-level houses commercial space including a pharmacy and a new mental health hub proposed in a collaboration that involves West Coast Health, Health New Zealand and Poutini Waiora.

Paroa School principal Rochelle Clark says students enjoyed their visit to the new facility.

A café, Chapter 1, operated by the owners of an existing Greymouth cafe DP1, opens on the top floor on Monday, with views down the river. An official ceremonial opening is also scheduled for Monday.

School groups had already been through the library ahead of its public opening.

Paroa School principal Rochelle Clark said the tamariki really enjoyed the visit.

Grey District mayor Tania Gibson says the library has been formally blessed ahead of its opening on Friday and official opening on Monday.

“Seeing their excitement as they explored the new environment was wonderful,” Paroa School principal Rochelle Clark said. “This new space is going to become a favourite place for our young readers and their families.”

Grey District mayor Tania Gibson said the feedback so far had been very positive.

“It’s so great to see people being blown away by the space. Everyone is excited. People are saying it’s better than they imagined and ‘oh it’s like we’re in Christchurch city’.”

She said she was particularly impressed that the new playground and parents’ room, which included changing facilities and a microwave, provided a place for young families to spend rainy West Coast days.

The new library would have the same opening hours as the old library but they would be reviewed in future.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Waewae gifted the building the name He Kupenga Mātauranga, while the library itself will be known as Greymouth Library.

School groups were among the first to get a look at Greymouth’s new $24m library.

Gibson said the name tied the building to its riverside location, where food was historically gathered.

Ngāti Waewae chairperson Francois Tumahai said the name carried real significance for the region and its people.

“The name acknowledges the very existence of a town, from the mountains to the sea and beyond,” he said.

“A fishing community steeped in traditions old and new, sustaining families and generations past and present.”

Blaketown School children designed library cards to celebrate the name, with Sahara Robertson’s design chosen by a panel of judges. It will be printed later this year.

The $24.23m project included $15.25m from ratepayers, serviced through a 40-year loan that works out to $41 per rateable property per year. Development West Coast put in $4m, and the Government $4.6m.

Development West Coast chairperson Sam MacDonald said the organisation was proud to have backed the project.

The Grey District Council is seeking expressions of interest for the sale of the old library and Harbour Board buildings, and has engaged Greg Daly Real Estate to market both prominent Greymouth sites.