One of the country's most preserved heritage precincts is hoping more funding and support will come its way as it struggles with underlying costs.
Oamaru is praised for its whitestone architecture but is struggling to make ends meet in the current economic environment.
Built in the late 1800s, the collection of buildings within the harbour heritage zone is protected.
But the Victorian era buildings have been looked after by the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust — a group of volunteers — for nearly 40 years.
"In the early 1980s we would have demolished it if we couldn't have afforded to do it, so our history and heritage here has become Oamaru's future," vice chairman Graeme Clark told 1News.
Massive renovations have taken place over the years to turn the area from once-abandoned grain warehouses into boutique shops.
The precinct was designed not only to bring in more tourists but to build up the town's local economy when other industries left.
The trust's chairman Richard Vinbrux said the district is now "pretty much tenanted out".
"It's vibrant, it's got interesting people there — it's a main attraction for Oamaru."
Artist Miss Purple, who operates her business and studio out of Harbour St, said she loves "all the architecture".
"It's a lovely community in an old-fashioned town and creates opportunity."
But keeping the area afloat has become a challenge due to rising insurance and compliance costs, Vinbrux said.
"We've got overheads that keep going up.
"We can't increase rents to cover all [the overhead costs]."
The trust is asking for the land on which it pays rent for to be cut and a council loan to become interest-free. It's also seeking other grants it is eligible for.
The Waitaki District Council has recently supported the trust with $20,000 to help pay for some of the loan.
Mayor Gary Kircher told 1News while it is "raised regularly as to whether we should be forgiving the loan and there's some good reasons to do that, but equally we've got to find the money from somewhere".
He said the council would like an economic benefit study to be carried out, alongside a business case on how best to make improvements.
Vinbrux warned putting up rents could see the area start to change for the worse.
"If we tried to get the maximum rent out of people, we would start losing tenants because, you know, it's not that easy and they need to be making money too," he said.
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