The right amount of money at the right time - that's how the Minister of Tourism's describing a new support package to promote businesses around Kaikoura.

LISTEN ABOVE: Encounter Kaikoura general manager Dennis Buurman spoke to Mike Hosking

The district's taken a hammering after the 7.8 quake last year, with visitor spending only around half what it was before the tremor.

The Government's now supplying just under $900,000 to show off Kaikoura to the world.

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett said they had to ensure people could access the town before marketing it to visitors.

"There's no point in promoting tourism in Kaikoura if the road wasn't open and people couldn't get there."

Bennett said the money will pay for extra marketing staff to promote tourism in Kaikoura.

"Both aimed at domestic and international visitors so that next summer they're really ready to go and everyone knows what the kind of opportunities are there."