The South Island was the big winner in the government's $200 million support package aimed at helping Covid-19-struck tourism businesses through international border closures.
At an industry conference in Ōtautahi this morning, the Tourism Minister outlined a financial package for operators.
Half of that funding targets the most vulnerable South Island regions, Fiordland, South Westland, Queenstown Lakes, Mackenzie District and Kaikōura.
But the funding came with a clear message from Stuart Nash: the industry must not go back to pre-Covid-19 levels of intensive tourism.
Belinda McCammon reports.
