Kaikōura's first visit from a cruise ship after last month's earthquake has lifted local business owners' spirits, the town's mayor says.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A UK-based cruise company brought about 90 tourists to the quake-hit town for the day yesterday on the Caledonian Sky.
Mayor Winston Gray said passengers were offered a range of activities, including a nature walk and dolphin cruise.
Business owners he spoke to were very happy to have more tourists through their doors - and the visit was a small milestone in Kaikōura's recovery, Mr Gray said.
"Certainly the business people I've spoken to were really quite lifted by it.
"It's not quite business as usual, but it's business - that, along with quite a lot of domestic tourism from Christchurch and holiday home owners that are up here now, the place was quite busy yesterday."
Several more cruise ships will visit over the next month, Mr Gray said.
