Destination Kaikōura Welcome Community and Government Support

Date Friday November 18, 2016

For immediate release

Destination Kaikōura has welcomed today’s government announcement offering a support package for small businesses affected by this week’s quake.

Destination Kaikōura General Manager Glenn Ormsby said the announcement, providing a staff support subsidy for small businesses, was welcome good news for a community that was dealing with the aftermath of a large quake that had left the East Coast community rattled and isolated.

The announcement by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley was timely said Mr Orsmby and followed an immense show of support that had poured into the region from across the country.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support in words and actions that have flooded in to help us.

“We are a tight community, and as happens in tragedy, it brings us all together. There has been some incredible solidarity and unity shown across the community and a desire to support each other to get through this and do what we can to get back on our feet.”

He said the priority initially was to ensure people were safe and had access to food shelter and support.

“The next phase is to assess and take a stock-take of our infrastructure and the town and buildings to determine what is in good shape and what needs attention.

“Despite the road blockages into the town, we have weathered the impact of the quake reasonably well,” he said.

Getting the town open for the business was the next focus, and this was a way that the wider community to continue to show their support Mr Ormsby said.

“Kaikoura is a town of incredible resilience and character and we will come back from this.

“For those wanting to show support for our community please lock us in for a visit over summer when we are again open for business. Come and visit us and allow our community to give back to you with hospitality and the amazing experiences that are on offer here.

“I want to thank everyone again for their support, and send a high-five to the people of this community who have rallied around and supported each other and helped ensure we will get through this together.”

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