81-802: The Left Bank Art Gallery is a public art gallery in Greymouth , New Zealand. Operated by the West Coast Society of Arts Inc, it opened in 1992 in a 1927 Bank of New Zealand building on the left bank of the Grey River . The only staffed public gallery on the West Coast , it exhibits artists from Karamea to Haast , and holds the National Pounamu Collection which was assembled from a biennial carving competition. There had been an Arts Society in Greymouth since
162-613: A Māori named Kehu, who had previously visited the West Coast and who had agreed to act as their guide. Brunner discovered coal in the Grey Valley , and several places in the region (notably the town of Brunner and Lake Brunner ) bear his name. Brunner himself named the Grey River after Sir George Grey , Governor of New Zealand. As numbers of colonists continued to increase in Nelson and Canterbury , interest grew in settling
243-959: A former owner in memory of their position and authority. The most prized taonga are those with known histories going back many generations: these are believed to have their own mana and were often given as gifts to seal important agreements. Pounamu taonga include tools such as toki ( adzes ), whao ( chisels ), whao whakakōka (gouges), ripi pounamu (knives), scrapers, awls, hammer stones, and drill points. Hunting tools include matau ( fishing hooks ) and lures, spear points, and kākā poria (leg rings for fastening captive birds); weapons such as mere ; and ornaments such as pendants ( hei tiki , hei matau and pekapeka ), ear pendants ( kuru and kapeu ), and cloak pins. Functional pounamu tools were widely worn for both practical and ornamental reasons, and continued to be worn as purely ornamental pendants ( hei kakī ) even after they were no longer used as tools. Pounamu
324-409: A larger boundary, covering 340.00 km (131.27 sq mi). Using that boundary, Greymouth Rural had a population of 693 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 30 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 129 people (22.9%) since the 2006 census . There were 285 households, comprising 363 males and 330 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age
405-543: A retrospective of local potters that featured Chris Weaver and Andrew Nolan . In 2005 the gallery exhibited large-scale canvases by Philip Trusttum . By 2017 the gallery was running an annual Creative Click exhibition for West Coast photographers. The 2018 show From the Earth surveyed the pottery of the West Coast craft movement started by Yvonne Rust in the 1970s, including work by Rust, Hardy Browning , Chris Weaver , and Bob McQuarrie . The Left Bank for some years hosted
486-486: A rock outcrop gives a view of Cobden and the final lookout provides a panorama of the lower Grey Valley. Located off Turumaha Street next to Anzac Park, this short loop walk takes you through the Kōwhai Forrest, half of which is bounded by the mudflats of Blaketown Lagoon. There are some boardwalks which follow through estuarine vegetation. This walk is located in the only substantial forest area close to Greymouth. It
567-697: A second explosion on 24 November dashed all hope of survival for the miners. Pike River Coal went into receivership in the wake of the disaster and was purchased by Solid Energy , which closed the Spring Creek Mine in 2012 with the loss of 220 jobs and went into voluntary administration in August 2015. After the decline in coal mining and forestry, the West Coast economy has become increasingly dependent on ecotourism . Thousands of coal mining jobs had declined to just 60, and hundreds of tourism jobs had replaced them. During Greymouth's boom years, much of
648-724: A term for several types of hard and durable stone found in the South Island of New Zealand. They are highly valued in New Zealand, and carvings made from pounamu play an important role in Māori culture . The Māori word pounamu , also used in New Zealand English , refers to two main types of green stone valued for carving: nephrite jade , classified by Māori as kawakawa , kahurangi , īnanga , and other names depending on colour; and translucent bowenite ,
729-439: A type of serpentine , known as tangiwai . The collective term pounamu is preferred, as the other names in common use are misleading, such as New Zealand jade (not all pounamu is jade) and greenstone (a generic term used for unrelated stone from many countries). Pounamu is only found in New Zealand, whereas much of the carved "greenstone" sold in souvenir shops is jade sourced overseas. The Māori classification of pounamu
810-728: A wall of opposition. People said we didn't need one." In 1981 Greymouth mayor Dr Barry Dallas called a meeting to establish a public gallery on the West Coast. Acting chair of the Westland Community Arts Council Roger Ewer worked with Dallas to create an exhibition space on the vacant first floor of the Greymouth Borough Council Chambers, on the corner of Puketahi and Tainui streets in central Greymouth. The first exhibition in February 1982, opened by Toss Wollaston,
891-457: Is a sandbar at the mouth of the Grey River . It is notorious in New Zealand and more than 44 ships have been wrecked there while entering, leaving or mooring in the harbour. The first shipwreck happened on 13 September 1863 when the schooner Gipsy carrying mostly gold diggers from Sydney, was caught in a northeasterly gale. Sixteen lives have been lost since 1865, when the Nugget drifted out of
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#1732779628947972-463: Is accessed 20 km (12 mi) south of Greymouth, which is the most direct route to or from Christchurch. The town is also the western terminus of the Midland line from Christchurch. Large coal trains often operate from Greymouth on this line to Christchurch. The famous TranzAlpine train also terminates at Greymouth. The Greymouth Airport is only 1.9 km (1.2 mi) south of the centre of
1053-479: Is by colour and appearance; the shade of green is matched against a colour found in nature, and some hues contain flecks of red or brown. Jade is formed from two different stones: jadeite and nephrite . Jadeite (sodium aluminium silicate) has interlocking granular crystals, while nephrite (calcium magnesium silicate) has crystals that are interwoven and fibrous. Jadeite is mostly found in Myanmar , while nephrite
1134-612: Is found along the eastern and northern edge of Fiordland. The Anita Bay Dunite near Milford Sound is a small but highly prized source of pounamu. In the Southern Alps, the Pounamu Ultramafic Belt in the Haast Schist occurs as isolated pods which are eroded and found on West Coast rivers and beaches. One source of īnanga pounamu at the head of Lake Wakatipu is possibly the only jade mining site in
1215-491: Is found in Europe , British Columbia , Australia , and New Zealand . New Zealand nephrite contains varying amounts of iron, which account for its range of shades, richness of green, and translucency. Pounamu is generally found in rivers in specific parts of the South Island as nondescript boulders and stones. Pounamu has been formed in New Zealand in four main locations; the West Coast , Fiordland , western Southland and
1296-634: Is found only in the South Island of New Zealand, known in Māori as Te Wai Pounamu ('The [land of] Greenstone Water') or Te Wahi Pounamu ('The Place of Greenstone'). In 1997 the Crown handed back the ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu to the South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu (or Kai Tahu), as part of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement . Pounamu was of such value to Māori that peace
1377-431: Is located on Marsden Road and is a 25 minute loop track. Halfway along the track is a deviation to a lookout point with views of regenerating forest. This walk is accessed via North Beach Road, Cobden or Seven Mile Road, Rapahoe and is 5.5 km one way. It is a well-formed walk through coastal bush with stunning cliff top views. This forest track passes by tailraces and dams and through tunnels built by gold miners in
1458-553: Is now sold nationwide. Greymouth has several state primary schools offering education up to year 8, and Greymouth High School and John Paul II High School providing secondary education. There are also state-integrated Catholic primary and secondary schools. Tai Poutini Polytechnic has its head office based in Greymouth. It also has campuses in Auckland, Christchurch, Hokitika, Reefton, Wanaka and Westport. Founded in 1992,
1539-592: Is still an alternative name for the Grey River. The first Europeans to visit the site of what is now Greymouth were Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy in 1846. Brunner and Heaphy were detailed by the Nelson Land Company to investigate the country south of the Buller and to report on its resources and potential as a field for further settlement. They set out from Nelson on 17 March 1846 accompanied by
1620-617: Is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council . The population of the whole Grey District is 14,800, which accounts for 43% of the West Coast's inhabitants. The Greymouth urban area had an estimated population of 8,640 (June 2024). A large proportion of the District, 65%, is part of the Conservation Estate owned and managed by
1701-681: The 1990 Commission and blessed by the Governor General Sir Paul Reeves , and were joined by a flax rope made by Auckland weaver Dante Bonica . In April 2017 the Left Bank building was assessed at just 15–25% of the seismic strength required under the National Building Standard (the minimum threshold for public buildings was 34%). The gallery closed in April 2018 while the $ 300,000 strengthening
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#17327796289471782-432: The 2010 Canterbury earthquake , many of Greymouth's heritage buildings were found to be unsafe, and the combination of earthquake-strengthening costs and being on lease land makes many of them uneconomic to restore and occupy. Greymouth is also known for its pounamu ("greenstone", a form of jade ) carving industry which goes back to Māori origins. The town's local brewery, Monteith's , has produced beer since 1868 which
1863-533: The Arahura Deed . This was signed in Māwhera by leading chiefs on 21 May 1860: it sold the entire West Coast to the Crown for just £300 (equivalent to NZ$ 38,060 in 2021), apart from a scattering of reserves totalling 4,000 ha (40 km ). (Just after the signing, Mackay capsized his canoe in the Grey River, and some of the writing in the document is smudged to this day.) The reserves included Māwhera, now
1944-579: The Lauderdale was heading to Greymouth from Nydia Bay and on 27 June struck the north tiphead, ending up stranded on the Blaketown beach after, at one point, being grounded against another shipwreck from 1908, the Hawea . The Lauderdale is one of three wrecks which remain on the Greymouth coastline in the twenty-first century and in April 2016 a local Blaketown family unveiled a commemorative plaque on
2025-622: The Left Bank Art Gallery in Greymouth is located in the former Bank of New Zealand building on the left bank of the Grey River. It is operated by the West Coast Society of the Arts and exhibits the works of artists from Karamea to Haast and holds the National Pounamu Collection. In 2007 the first Art in the Park event was organised in Greymouth at Dixon Park by Linda and Ashley Morley, South Africans living in New Zealand. They brought
2106-474: The Lottery Grants Board , and leased it to the West Coast Society of Arts Inc. The WCSA then refurbished the building and added an entrance ramp. The interior consisted of three exhibition spaces with a 6 metre ceiling, and the upstairs (once the assistant bank manager's flat) was later converted into environmentally-controlled storage. A green and yellow colour scheme chosen by WCSA chair Sue Syme
2187-631: The Nelson district. It is typically recovered from rivers and beaches where it has been transported to after being eroded from the mountains. The group of rocks where pounamu comes from are called ophiolites . Ophiolites are slices of the deep ocean crust and part of the mantle . When these deep mantle rocks ( serpentinite ) and crustal rock ( mafic igneous rocks ) are heated up ( metamorphosed ) together, pounamu can be formed at their contact. The Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt has been metamorphosed in western Southland and pounamu from this belt
2268-550: The 1940s; its early members included George Chippendale , Arthur Foster , David Graham , Allan Holcroft , and St Clair Sofield ; they were joined by Toss Wollaston in 1949. Art exhibitions were held in private rooms, hostels, the Copper Room of the Union Hotel, or on one occasion in an alleyway behind King's Hotel. Even in the 1980s there was no permanent art gallery; as Greymouth artist Rod Leonard recalled, "We hit
2349-493: The 19th century and is a 1.1 km loop track. It is approximately 30 km southeast of Greymouth. Archaeological evidence shows Māori settlements on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island dating back to 1300–1400 AD. Located at Karamea , Westport (Kawatiri), Bruce Bay (Mahitahi) and Jackson Bay (Okahu), excavations have identified in-ground cooking ovens (hāngī) and middens (rubbish tips). They show that these early Māori ate moa and seals as well as fish from
2430-457: The 2016 animated movie Moana the central premise is to return the stolen heart of Te Fiti which is manifest in a pounamu stone amulet. Fossicking for Pounamu is a cultural activity in New Zealand and allowed on designated areas of the West Coast of the South Island ( Te Tai o Poutini ) and is limited to what can be carried unaided; fossicking elsewhere in the Kai Tahu tribal area
2511-777: The 2023 census, Greymouth had a smaller boundary, covering 27.45 km (10.60 sq mi). Using that boundary, Greymouth had a population of 7,962 at the 2018 New Zealand census , a decrease of 156 people (−1.9%) since the 2013 census , and a decrease of 267 people (−3.2%) since the 2006 census . There were 3,345 households, comprising 3,933 males and 4,038 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,398 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,356 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 3,573 (44.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,641 (20.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 90.9% European/ Pākehā , 10.6% Māori , 1.5% Pasifika , 3.8% Asian , and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
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2592-520: The Brunner Field. Brunner (1861–1935), Tyneside (1876–1954), Wallsend (1894–1932), Coal Pit Heath (1877–1893), Coolgardie (1894–1932), Pig and Whistle (1900–1944), South Brunner (1906–1907), St Kilda (1907–1921), North Brunner (1908–1920), Dobson (1920–1968). The 10 mines produced over 8 million tonnes of coal. The coal reserves in the district including - measured, indicated, and inferred total 164 million tonnes. Fishing has long been important to
2673-552: The Coal Creek valley though a mixed beech-podocarp forest. The walk is approximately 3.6 km return and is accessed 8 km northeast of Greymouth at Runanga. This is a zigzag uphill track taking in four lookouts across Greymouth and the Grey Valley. The first lookout shows the Greymouth town centre and the Grey River. The second lookout provides a view of central Greymouth from a greater elevation. The third lookout at
2754-527: The Department of Conservation making Greymouth a natural centre for walkers and trampers. The town is located at the mouth of the Grey River , on a narrow coastal plain close to the foot of the Southern Alps . In clear weather, Aoraki / Mount Cook can be clearly seen to the south from near the town. The mouth of the river divides the town into three areas: Blaketown, close to the river's mouth on
2835-601: The Grey District council supplied only $ 10,000 for the operating budget instead of the $ 50,000 requested. This was insufficient to employ a full-time director, so Arlidge resigned on 12 July 1994 and the gallery closed on Mondays. Don Smith took over as director. The Council reminded the Left Bank that it maintained the gallery's rent at just $ 10/week, and contributed around $ 20,000 a year when insurance, Mawhera Incorporation lease, and loss of rating were taken into account. In 1999, after receiving $ 14,250 for annual operations,
2916-503: The Grey River overseeing a group of Māori digging up the Brunner Seam on the Grey River bank. John Rochfort undertook the original survey of the site of the township in 1865. Greymouth was proclaimed a borough on 16 July 1868, and on 26 August 1868 an election was held. On 16 September 1868, the new borough council held its first meeting and unanimously elected Edward Masters as the first mayor of Greymouth . From 1853 until
2997-599: The Grey River, with many of the most significant being assigned names: for example, the Great Flood (1872), the Jubilee Flood (1887), the Big Flood (1905), The Biggest Since 1887 (1936), The Biggest Since 1936 (1977), The Big One (May 1988) and The Biggest (September 1988). After the two floods in 1988 the mayor of Greymouth , Barry Dallas , organised the construction of a flood protection wall. Rising 2 m above
3078-518: The Grey Valley and is known locally as the Barber, which can be seen as well as felt because a mist accompanies the cold wind. In the early twentieth century the Barber was also known as the "gorge wind". It was reported that there were changes to the direction, severity and coldness of the wind in that era and this change was attributed to the felling of trees on the Coast Road leading north towards
3159-628: The Greymouth area from hot summer days and cold winter nights. Snow is rare, with the last reported event occurring on 4 August 2019. On 10 March 2005, a major tornado , which started as a waterspout , made landfall in the suburb of Blaketown. It quickly moved through the town passing just south of the main town centre. The tornado was one of the largest reported in recent history in the West Coast region, caused millions of dollars in damage, and injured several people. Previous tornadoes which had struck Greymouth on 16 June 2003 and 28 March 2001 had destroyed several buildings. A katabatic wind blows down
3240-506: The Premier Award winner was West Coast carver Paul Bradford. The permanent collection, a mixture of purchases and donations, includes works by Toss Wollaston, Allan Holcroft, Olivia Spencer-Bower, Yvonne Rust , Peter Hughson, Russell Beck, 1990 lithographs from Muka Studio, and contemporary pounamu . The collection began with a Toss Wollaston drawing, Erua , gifted by the artist in 1985. St Clair Sofield's watercolour South Tip Head
3321-703: The United States, Barack Obama with a wahaika (a type of Māori weapon) created from pounamu carved by New Zealand artist Aden Hoglund . An exhibition curated by Te Papa in 2007 called Kura Pounamu showcased 200 pounamu items from their collections and linked New Zealand and China through both the geographical location of nephrite and also the high level of artistry achieved in ancient China and then thousands of years later amongst Māori. The exhibition marked 40 years of diplomatic relations between countries when it toured to five venues in China in 2013. In
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3402-435: The West Coast 20 years ago". In July 1993 it staged a 30-year retrospective of prints by Pat Hanly . In February 1994 it exhibited a joint show of Catherine Brough's West Coast landscapes and Sue Syme 's satirical watercolours. A July 1998 show included local artists Syme, Peter Tennant, Greg Smith, Helen Davidson, and Jim Tennant. With the return of Yvonne Rust to the West Coast in 1998, the gallery staged Coasters In Clay ,
3483-478: The West Coast Cycle Trail, telling its story. This plaque is within sight of the wreck remains which appear and disappear on the shoreline with the tides. The Abel Tasman and the Hawea are the other two remaining wrecks. Greymouth covers 27.70 km (10.70 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 8,640 as of June 2024, with a population density of 312 people per km . Before
3564-481: The West Coast, but the land was still owned by Māori – Poutini Ngāi Tahu . In 1857 Poutini Ngāi Tahu chiefs wrote to Donald McLean, the New Zealand government land purchase officer, offering to sell the land for £2500, as long as some land was reserved for their use and they kept their rights to the pounamu (greenstone) of the Arahura River . In 1859, James Mackay was sent to broker a purchase deal, known as
3645-528: The abolition of provinces in 1876, Greymouth was first part of Canterbury Province (the West Coast part of the Province was known as West Canterbury) and then part of an independent Westland Province . However Cobden, on the north (or right) bank of the Grey River was a part of Nelson Province from 1853 to 1876. The boundary between the Canterbury and Nelson provinces had been set as a straight line from
3726-399: The arrival of Ngāi Tahu in the South Island in the middle of the 18th century, the production of pounamu increased. Pounamu crafting and trade was important to the economy of Ngāi Tahu. Pounamu taonga increase in mana (spiritual power or prestige) as they pass from one generation to another. Pounamu is believed to absorb the mana of its past owners, and some heirloom pieces are named after
3807-523: The biennial New Zealand Pounamu/Jade Exhibition and competition, which began in 1984. Continued sponsorship by Air New Zealand allowed it to purchase the winners of the competition for its permanent collection. By the seventh national Pounamu Exhibition in 1998 the Left Bank was exhibiting the work of student carvers from Tai Poutini Polytechnic's jade-carving diploma, which had begun in 1995. The 11th national exhibition in January 2006 displayed 65 works, and
3888-519: The census's question about religious affiliation, 59.3% had no religion, 30.7% were Christian , 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.4% were Hindu , 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (11.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 144 (24.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 32,100, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 93 people (16.1%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
3969-481: The centre of Greymouth. On 22 July 1864 the Nelson became the first steamer to cross the Grey bar and steam up the Grey River. Aboard the 'Nelson' were Matthew Batty and Reuben Waite plus approximately 70 prospectors. Reuben Waite would open the first store in Greymouth on the banks of the Grey River at the corner of which is now Waite Street and Mawhera Quay. Matthew Batty would become the first European coal miner on
4050-556: The centre of town was built up in brick Art Deco building on leased land in the Mawhera Reserve. This land was administered for many years by the Department of Maori Affairs , but was returned to the control of the iwi in 1976. At that time Mawhera Inc's total assets were worth $ 2m, but had grown to $ 123m by 2018. Mawhera Inc is now the town's largest landlord, with 1600 shareholders. After regulations were tightened following
4131-551: The citizens of the area was partially alleviated with the creation of the County of Westland – which had all the administrative powers of a provincial council, but saw the legislative powers remain with Parliament in Wellington . Members of Parliament were not happy with having to spend their time on local legislation, and in 1873 the government elevated the county to full provincial status as Westland Province. The Greymouth Bar
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#17327796289474212-571: The concept from South Africa. In 2008 inclement weather meant the organisers sought an alternative venue that was more sheltered from rain. The 2009 Art in the Park was held at Shantytown , and remained there for a couple of years before locating to the Greymouth High School gymnasium. In 1944 the Greymouth Operatic Society was formalised, following a number of successful patriotic reviews and concerts during
4293-487: The head of the Hurunui River to Lake Brunner at a time when the area was virtually uninhabited, but the West Coast gold rush straddled that boundary, with a population boom also straddling the boundary. In 1866, there had been a proposal for portions of Canterbury Province, including the urban area of Greymouth and the rural area south, to be annexed and solely administered by Nelson Province. The situation for
4374-457: The hope Barry Dallas, the mayor who had supported the WCSA and arranged the purchase of the building, could attend, but he had died a month earlier on 21 April. To mark the opening two large pounamu boulders were installed, one inanga from the Arahura River and one kawakawa from Kaniere : four North Island carvers had worked on one, five South Islanders on the other. They had been purchased by
4455-461: The level of the railway embankment and riverside wharf, it was completed in September 1990 at a cost of NZ$ 4m. Since its completion Greymouth has not suffered a significant flood, although the river has come close to the top of the flood wall several times. With 65% of the Grey District forming part of the Conservation Estate, there are many local walks to enjoy. The path gently descends down to
4536-409: The new settlements of Dunollie and Seven Mile. Greymouth businesses would often advertise the benefits of their products, especially clothing to ward off the chill of the Barber. A combination of high intensity rainfall, high topographic relief and short steep rivers often leads to rapid flooding of low-lying land across the West Coast. Since its founding Greymouth has experienced two dozen floods by
4617-740: The nucleus of its permanent collection. In April 1987 the space in the Borough Council Chambers was taken over by the newly-formed Timberlands , and the Arts Society was homeless. The WCSA staged exhibitions in the Trowbridge Room, and ran the 1988 jade exhibition in the Ashley Motor Inn. In September 1989 a new exhibition space with an "uninspiring exterior" was created at 29 Lord Street in Greymouth's industrial area. The former National Library service centre
4698-501: The rent was doubled to $ 1000/year, and the Council again explained that it subsidised the gallery's maintenance ($ 7,500/year), Mawhera lease ($ 1020), insurance ($ 1000), and rates ($ 1000). By 1997 Catherine Moffitt was the Left Bank's manager, and the gallery received a $ 15,000 operating grant. By 1998 Fiona Carruthers was the gallery curator, and Melanie Wilson and Adrienne Graham were employed as gallery assistants. In 2005 Wayne Lorimer
4779-436: The river and across the bar at night. The cutter was half full of water when the crew came on deck and only one of the two crewmen made it safely to shore. The year 1866 was the most dangerous year for shipping in Greymouth, with five schooners and screw steamers being wrecked due to a number of reasons, including getting stranded on the spit, sheered in current, insufficient tug power and the engine stopped. On 23 June 1910
4860-564: The river and sea. These earliest West Coast people were from east Polynesia. Their stone knives and adzes were made by using the Polynesian flaking method and personal ornaments found on the sites were based on traditional Polynesian shark-tooth designs. These early people were subsumed by later Māori tribes (iwi) who came to the West Coast as population grew and settlement spread. Ngāi Tahu came to Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast) about
4941-561: The south bank; Karoro , to the southeast, separated from Blaketown by a series of small estuarine lagoons; and Cobden , formerly a separate town, on the river's north bank. Greymouth is on State Highway 6 , which connects it with Hokitika in the south and Westport in the north. It also stands at the terminus of State Highway 7 , which runs through Dobson and Reefton , eventually reaching North Canterbury and its junction with State Highway 1 at Waipara, 55 km (34 mi) north of Christchurch, via Lewis Pass . Highway 73
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#17327796289475022-630: The start of the nineteenth century. Under Tūhuru Kōkare , a great warrior, they defeated the Ngāti Wairangi in a series of battles for the greenstone (pounamu) coast. The West Coast was one of the principal sources of the highly-prized greenstone which is almost as hard as steel. The Poutini Ngāi Tahu built fortified pā at Māwhera (Greymouth), Ōkārito and Mahitahi (Bruce Bay) and had villages or gardens at other places including Inangahua , Taramakau, Mahinapua , Pouerua , Okuru and Arawhata (Jackson Bay). The name Māwhera (meaning 'wide spread river mouth',
5103-477: The town, despite the fact that the entrance to the Grey River has two notoriously dangerous sandbars ; an inner and outer bar. Beginning in the 1960s, forestry and coal mining began to decline on the West Coast. The planned opening of the Pike River Mine in early 2008 spurred new investments in upgrading port facilities at the town. The opening of the new mine, as well as the planned Spring Creek mine,
5184-524: The town. Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as oceanic (Cfb). The mean annual rainfall Greymouth receives is high by New Zealand standards and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year. This is due to its position receiving marine westerlies throughout the year that often do not rise above the Southern Alps . As a result, it creates a rain shadow effect that sees east coast locations having far sunnier and warmer summers. This extreme marine influence also shelters
5265-609: The tracks in summer, particularly via Harper Pass . Jewellery and other decorative items made from gold and pounamu were particularly fashionable in New Zealand in the Victorian and Edwardian years in the late 19th and early 20th century. It continues to be popular among New Zealanders and is often given as gifts. In 2011, the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key presented the President of
5346-454: The war years. The first production in 1945 was "The Country Girl" with Beverley Patterson in the lead role of 'Marjorie Joy'. In 2021 the Greymouth Operatic Society is a thriving operation, providing the opportunity for local performers, musician and stage crews to learn all things theatre. The aim of the Society is to support, educate, and nurture local talent. Pounamu Pounamu is
5427-531: The world with Government protection. Pounamu plays a very important role in Māori culture and is a taonga (treasure). It is and has been an important part of trade between the South Island iwi (tribe) Ngāi Tahu and other iwi. Adze blades made from pounamu were desired for carving of wood, and even with the arrival of metal tools pounamu tools were used. These were often reworked into hei tiki (stylised human figures worn as pendants) and other taonga when they were no longer useful for carving wood. After
5508-563: Was 11.5, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.3% had no religion, 37.5% were Christian , 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.7% were Hindu , 0.4% were Muslim , 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 765 (11.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,839 (28.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 876 people (13.3%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
5589-479: Was 47.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 114 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 105 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 369 (53.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (15.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.4% European/ Pākehā , 10.4% Māori , 0.4% Pasifika , 0.9% Asian , and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.5, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer
5670-424: Was a "vast display" of West Coast painting and photography. The West Coast Society of Arts Inc. (WCSA) was formed to run the gallery, using volunteers and government-funded Project Employment Programme workers. The gallery held major biennial exhibitions of jade carving in 1984 and 1986, sponsored by Air New Zealand . A donation of $ 15,000 from BP NZ Ltd allowed it to purchase three works by Olivia Spencer-Bower ,
5751-447: Was applied in 1998, and was replaced by burgundy, fawn, and pearl in 2006, and white after the gallery's earthquake strengthening. The Left Bank Art Gallery was officially opened by Greymouth mayor Ron Hibbs in its new premises on Saturday 23 May 1992, although the gallery had been open to the public since 20 March, and opened its first show – a collection of Anne Donovan watercolours – on 28 March. The opening had been brought forward in
5832-480: Was called the biggest investment happening in the area for a hundred years; coal barges travelling to and from reshipment facilities in Taranaki would have carried containerised cargo to the town and saved the port from closure. On 19 November 2010, there was an explosion at the Pike River Mine , trapping 29 miners. Attempts to rescue the trapped miners were repeatedly delayed due to high levels of methane gas, until
5913-408: Was carried out and disabled access was built at the rear, and reopened in February 2019. The first official exhibition was a selection of West Coast works by Allan Holcroft, mounted by his son Graham, and a smaller exhibition of works by Evelyn Hewlett in a side gallery. In October 1992 the Left Bank exhibited a collection of painted and sculpted nudes, something that "wouldn't have been tolerated on
5994-434: Was cemented by the exchange of valuable carved heirlooms, creating what was figuratively called a tautau pounamu (door of greenstone), as in the saying Me tautau pounamu, kia kore ai e pakaru, ake, ake (Let conclude a peace treaty that may never be broken, for ever and ever). There were a dozen major pounamu trails used in the trading of pounamu and many more minor routes. Parties of 6 to 12 are thought to have used
6075-543: Was christened Shed 2. Shed 2 exhibitions included a retrospective of Dusty Rhodes ' work and Yvonne Rust's paintings. A public meeting attended by 130 created pressure on the Council to establish a permanent gallery. In 1988 the Bank of New Zealand vacated its 1927 brick and concrete corner building at 1 Tainui Street. It was purchased by local architect Gary Hopkinson in 1990, repainted, and refurbished. The Grey District Council purchased it for $ 100,000, including $ 55,000 from
6156-426: Was donated in August 1993, and a Stanley Palmer monoprint Abandoned Buses, Millerton in 1996. A Lotteries Commission grant at the beginning of 1995 allowed the gallery to build a temperature-controlled Conservation Room for its collection, at that point comprising 59 works valued at $ 50,000 (in 1996 dollars). The gallery's national pounamu collection includes work by Paul Bradford and Russell Beck . The gallery
6237-413: Was granted $ 15,000 in 1997 to create a display area for the collection, at that time comprising 19 pieces by 15 leading carvers. The entranceway, named Te Ara Poutini – Pathways of Greenstone , was carved from tōtara over June and July 1998 by Tony Manuel and Turi Gibb . On 7 May 1999 a pounamu adze valued at $ 25,000, gifted to the gallery after being found in 1998 in 12 Mile Creek north of Greymouth,
6318-481: Was stolen from a secured display case. The gallery initially ran as both a civic exhibition space and a selling gallery, to fund its operation. Its first director was Richard Arlidge . In 1993 it failed to secure a $ 45,000 operating grant from the Grey District Council, and applied for a $ 30,000 Lottery Community Development Grant to continue to support a director and two part-time workers. In 1994–95
6399-408: Was that 3,144 (47.9%) people were employed full-time, 1,023 (15.6%) were part-time, and 198 (3.0%) were unemployed. Greymouth Rural statistical area, which stretches between Greymouth and Lake Brunner , covers 338.07 km (130.53 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 810 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2.4 people per km . Before the 2023 census, Greymouth Rural had
6480-463: Was that 315 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 90 (15.5%) were part-time, and 21 (3.6%) were unemployed. Greymouth was founded during the West Coast gold rush of the 1860s, but for 150 years after this its economy was based on coal mining and native timber forestry . These brought prosperity to the town which at one point had 47 hotels (today it has only six). In 2020 most of the coal mines have now closed yet at there were once ten coal mines in
6561-442: Was the gallery director; by 2006 it was Jane Darling. By the time of the gallery's re-opening after earthquake strengthening, WCSA chair Cassandra Struve was acting as Left Bank's coordinator. The Left Bank Art Gallery is currently the only staffed public art gallery in the West Coast region , so exhibits work by artists from Karamea to Haast . Greymouth Greymouth ( / ˈ ɡ r eɪ m aʊ θ / ) ( Māori : Māwhera )
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