Nearly a year on from the Kaikoura earthquakes, the town's tourism industry is bouncing back.
Following the 7.8 magnitude quake on November 14, 2016, repairs to the harbour are almost complete, giving hope to operators who are wishing for a busy summer season.
For years the dolphins and whales off the coast of Kaikoura have been at the heart of a thriving $120 million tourism industry.
But the harbour's use was limited while being dredged after the quakes caused the sea floor to rise, and the whale watching industry has slowed.
Lynette Buurman from Dolphin Encounters told 1 NEWS the company would normally be "starting to swing into some serious business volume" at this time of year.
Kaikoura Mayor Winston Gray says the tourism industry is extremely important in the region.
"It's really important, not just for that industry but for the whole industry - the fuel stations, the accommodation, the restaurants. It trickles through the community, so it'll be great to have that back up and running," he said.
The harbour will be back to full capacity in a few weeks on the anniversary of the quake, and the next challenge is opening the road north to boost the flow of tourists.
"We have got strong forward bookings so we know that as soon as that message is out there, that the road is definitely open, I think we will see a real return to good business volume," Ms Buurman said.
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