Internationally, earthquake resilience is one of the most challenging issues for heritage buildings in earthquake-prone regions. Retaining essential aspects of heritage whilst ensuring adequate resilience can be difficult, particularly in towns with poor economies. New Zealand (NZ) has many listed heritage buildings in small-town centres, mostly built before the building code following the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake. They are rated earthquake-prone, leading to underuse. This affects their conservation and the town’s overall earthquake resilience, creating a negative spiral of town vitality and economy. This paper investigates the potential of adaptive reuse as a strategy for enhancing the resilience of NZ small towns, focusing on heritage buildings. It examines the criteria for successful adaptive reuse projects and their impact on the social, environmental, and structural fabric. A key finding is a significant increase in a heritage building's habitation and seismic resilience when reused, contributing to a safer and more vibrant town centre. An adaptive reuse evaluation criteria matrix is developed, highlighting the multifaceted potential to improve sustainability and overall project quality. By considering factors beyond basic functionality, such as community benefit and cultural heritage preservation, adaptive reuse emerges as a powerful tool for creating more resilient, vibrant, and historically connected communities in small towns. This research aims to broaden the perspective of the construction field, equipping stakeholders with the insights needed to make informed decisions that yield societal rather than just financial optimal outcomes.