Queenstown businesses are bracing themselves for tough times ahead with the town potentially having to boil water for months.  

The area's in the grip of an outbreak of infections from a waterborne parasite. 

Known cases of the cryptosporidium illness have reached 21, and the national water regulators have slapped a compliance notice on the region.  

Queenstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Sharon Fifield told Mike Hosking that businesses are managing things at the moment.  

Adding to the misery, a state of emergency has just been declared in Queenstown due to the weather. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• Live: Snow falls as southern flooding mop-up gets underway
• Queenstown mayor warns businesses and communities will have to keep boiling water amid cryptosporidium outbreak