“We became a lot more about doing what we could to support people and businesses just to get through.” Rawson said while Covid-19 had caused major stress to local businesses and the regional economy, the big silver lining was the way in which it forced businesses, local authorities and other organisations to band together to tackle the challenges. In Nelson, Project Kōkiri was the biggest example of that initiative, an economic regeneration plan that includes local government, central government agencies and iwi, along with groups like the NRDA and the Nelson Chamber of Commerce. Since being set up in June, it has promoted a range of regional initiatives, most recently the Pick Nelson-Tasman campaign to attract seasonal workers for the summer harvest.