Kaikōura retailers struggling to get by without their usual summer influx of shoppers now have a way of taking their shops directly into the homes of their customers.
Emily Mullaly is a personal shopper working for Shop Kaikōura. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Shop Kaikōura has been set up by a tech expert from Dunedin, Ina Kinski, who wanted to help the struggling town get through the downturn caused by the earthquakes.
It connects those who can't make it to Kaikōura with a personal shopper via apps such as Skype or Facetime.
The shopper takes the customer on a virtual tour of local shops, helping them to find what they're looking for and pay for it with their credit card.
Ms Kinski said 30 people have booked since the site went live less than a week ago and many have contacted stores directly as a result of hearing about the initiative.
The government has offered businesses in Kaikōura a $7.5 million support package following the quakes.