Whanganui's towering National Bank building has a new owner and a new business that will foster other businesses is planned for its second storey.
It's to have a bar and restaurant in its lower storey and shared office space for small businesses upstairs, the owner said.
Andrew Tripe took possession of the building on November 4. He was reluctant to be named or photographed, saying he is an "understated" person and an announcement would seem boastful.
Born and raised in Whanganui, he's the founding partner of SamePage Group, a consultancy that works to change the culture of organisations.
The former National Bank is an imposing building that borders Whanganui's Majestic Square. Built in 1930 it has Category 2 Heritage New Zealand status and 45 per cent of the earthquake strength required of a new building.
Mr Tripe didn't want someone from out of town to buy it, and he wants whatever happens in it to be helpful for Whanganui.
What's planned upstairs is Hive & Co, a shared work space for small companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs. They will be able to bring their work there and share motivation and ideas with others.
They can come and go nationally and internationally, Mr Tripe said, bringing goodness and making goodness - like a hive of bees.
Their work area is to have a boardroom, two offices, a printer, free power and ultrafast broadband. It will also have beanbags and scribble boards, and be secure but constantly available.
The second storey needs work but should be ready to occupy by February.
Whanganui Chamber of Commerce CEO Marianne Archibald has had a tour of the building, and said the idea and the space are fantastic.
"One of the things an intelligent community needs is spaces that foster innovation. This is a fabulous ingredient for that."
She's planning to provide workshops for new businesses next year, and said they will also need investors - "people who've already done well in business and are excited about new people coming through".