Some quake-damaged Canterbury businesses are voluntarily repaying grants given to them by the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust.
The trust was set up in the aftermath of the February 2011 earthquake to help businesses needing assistance.
Grants distributed to date have now topped five million dollars.
Trust spokesperson, Pip Tschudin says it's heartening to see businesses that are back on their feet giving back to the Trust, in order to help others.
She says while the return is still on a small scale, it is the start of a positive trend.