The devastating effect of the Kaikōura earthquake on accommodation providers in the region has been officially calculated.
The Adelphi Hotel in Kaikōura Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The number of nights spent in Kaikōura's hotels, motels, backpackers and holiday parks plunged a record 41 percent in November.
"In Kaikōura, about half the accommodation providers we survey were closed for the second half of November, after the earthquake on 14 November cut access for the town," Statistics New Zealand business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said.
Guest nights in Kaikōura totalled 17,000 for the month, compared with 30,000 in November 2015.
In the Hurunui district, which includes Hanmer Springs, guest nights fell 12 percent - the largest fall in almost three years.
Despite the effects of the quake, surging tourist numbers throughout the rest of the country is benefitting accommodation providers.
Total guest nights for the Canterbury region, which Kaikōura and Hurunui are part of, rose 1.5 percent.
Nationally, the number of nights spent in short term accommodation hit a record high for a November month, rising 5.1 percent compared with the same period a year ago, and 6.5 percent for the year.
Statistics New Zealand said while there were fewer domestic travellers, demand from foreign visitors jumped 12 percent.