Just over a week after the fire which destroyed their Ranfurly home and two business premises, Dick and Janet Parker are busy getting on with life.
"Words can't say how thankful we are. Without the community support I couldn't have gotten through . . . Victim Support, family, friends, and other community members have been tremendous," Mrs Parker said.
On March 8, Mr and Mrs Parker (both 58) were woken at 5am by local butcher Graeme Jones, who saw flames and smoke coming from the 1940s Art Deco building owned and occupied by the couple.
They escaped unscathed, with pet cockatiel Eddy, just before their home on the top floor filled with smoke from the blaze below.
Their apartment, Ranfurly Auto workshop business, and Ranfurly Bike Hire tourism operation were gutted in what was thought to be the town's largest structure fire for at least 30 years.
Another business within the building was destroyed and an adjoining cafe damaged by smoke and water.
Smoke alarms activated as Mr and Mrs Parker left the main-street complex with nothing bar the nightclothes they were wearing as about 25 volunteer firefighters from Ranfurly, Naseby and Omakau moved in.
Initial investigations indicated the fire started in the auto workshop smoko room, although a cause has not yet been identified.
It is not being treated as suspicious.
About 10 vehicles in the garage were destroyed, including a client's Porsche.
Mrs Parker said house and contents insurance would cover the cost of most of the damage, although a detailed analysis had yet to be completed.
"It has been a massive job, working with insurance assessors, but it's too soon for us to know exactly where we're at. We are not as bad off as some people," she said.
The couple had "indefinite" accommodation with family in Ranfurly and were busy operating Ranfurly Bike Hire from temporary premises.
The former employees of Ranfurly Auto had had to be "let go" and were looking for alternative work until the business was able to reopen, Mrs Parker said.
"Hopefully, they will come back to us when the time comes. The business is [at] a stalemate at the moment and we are waiting on the experts to make decisions about what is salvageable," she said.
Mrs Parker said she and Mr Parker had been "inundated" with offers of accommodation, money, food, clothing, and household items.
"We would never have been homeless - we had at least six places to stay. The baking and food has been amazing, as well as all the donations - we even got a bundle of cash from one of the businesses we have a lot to do with in Alexandra," she said.
Mrs Parker said such support would not happen in many other places and the couple hoped to be able to repay the community "in due course".
"We will worry about ourselves last, because that's just the people we are. Hopefully, we will be building up from now on," she said.
