Trouble in paradise: Seaside hotspot struggles as Covid bites 6 minutes to read Kaikōura, the tourist mecca where towering mountains meet an ocean awash with whales and playful dolphins, was just recovering from the giant 2016 earthquake - and then Covid-19 struck. Herald journalists Kurt Bayer and George Heard report from a struggling seaside paradise. Dark clouds lingered low over the Kaikōura ranges on the day the Tourism Minister came to town. The Esplanade – the main drag – was gloomy on an eerie still day, where the squawk of seagulls hung sharply in the air. Empty car parks, boarded-up cafes and shops.