Whakatāne media organisations plan to give $750 vouchers to about 1000 local business next week to try to bring the town back to life and get them spending again.
Radio 1XX and the family-owned Whakatane Beacon are both working on ways to get through winter as they grapple with the impact of Covid-19 crisis and the Whakaari/White Island disaster.
The owners say their incomes have plummeted and the worst is yet to come.
Sharon Brettkelly reports.
