Franz Josef business owners say they are struggling to keep their heads above water after losing Aucklanders and international visitors.
The winters are traditionally quiet, but businesses say they've always had a rainy day kitty to keep them going after a fruitful peak season.
That has all but dried up for many after three disrupted summers of flooding, bridge wash outs and now Covid-19.
Tess Brunton and cameraman Nathan McKinnon are in Franz Josef and filed this report.