North Island tourism businesses battered by losses during the lengthy Covid-19 border closures are getting another battering from the horrendous spell of bad weather.

Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park on the Coromandel would normally host up to 1200 customers over Auckland anniversary weekend, but this year it was a tenth of that.

“It’s pretty brutal,” says owner Sheree Webster who is contacting hundreds of people booked for the coming Waitangi weekend to warn them of the big detour they will need to make because of major slips on State Highway 25.

Massive disruptions to flights after flooding at Auckland Airport, widespread road closures, Auckland city’s extended state of emergency, and more severe bad weather forecast are all combining to put a severe damper on what was shaping up to be a boomer summer for a tourism sector celebrating the return of international visitors.