Business is quiet in the north Canterbury town of Cheviot.
Cafes are open and waiting for customers, but the outlook is grim. The small rural town is the last stop before the road ends, and people have stopped coming.
The small north Canterbury town is dealing with the idea of becoming a destination rather than somewhere to pass through after the road north was completely shut off by Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Business owners are also dealing with a huge loss in revenue since the quakes, as the Hurunui District Council tries to encourage people to visit the area.
"We've basically lost 70 percent of our traffic, which means I've taken a huge hit like the rest of Cheviot in my trade and income," says one business owner.
Cheviot was by no means the worst-hit area after the earthquakes, but the aftermath is proving just as harmful.
Tourists used to stop on their way to Kaikoura, Picton and further north.
"None of that's coming through now to get the work up there, so yes that has had a huge effect in the last few days and I'm anticipating it will be like this for a few months yet."
On Friday night locals had a meeting about how they can improve the appeal of this small rural town.
Murray Maslin has brought a truckload of donated goods for Kaikoura, but Cheviot is as far as he can go; they'll have to be taken in via chopper later.
"It's a good cause and I never thought twice about doing it," says Mr Maslin.
Further south in Amberley, they were also lucky to escape the worst of the destruction from Monday's quake.
The road north may be shut, but towns like this are still very much open for business.
Newshub.
