Some Te Anau business owners are describing recent government funding in Queenstown as a "kick in the stomach".
Te Anau is the gateway to popular tourist spots including Milford Sound, and relies heavily on international tourists.
With some businesses facing months of zero turnover, many watched in dismay as the government announced $85 million in funding in neighbouring Queenstown, yet their town barely got a mention.
RNZ's Logan Church filed this report.