Mr Nash visited Southland yesterday as part of a southern tour.
Fiordland businesses and locals had been feeling the impact of last year’s flooding and the lack of overseas visitors.
They had been vocal in their fight to not become a forgotten town and for the borders to reopen as soon as possible.
Mr Nash met the Rotary Club of Fiordland last night — an event closed to media.
Before the meeting, he said he was aware the areas he was visiting were some of the most affected by a lack of international tourists.
“Te Anau is probably the community that has done it the hardest out of any community up and down this country.”
He would take back the stories he heard to the Cabinet when they discussed a transtasman bubble on Monday.
That bubble would be a game-changer for the community, he said.
Southland deputy mayor Ebel Kremer said the two meetings he had attended with the minister went well, and he was able to get an understanding of community concern.
One of the key concerns was ensuring there was still a community left in Te Anau when visitors returned.
He said a transtasman bubble was imperative.
While in Te Anau, Mr Nash also spoke to Fiordland Lobster management.
Under the Tourism Recovery Package, 11 businesses in Fiordland, Stewart Island and Invercargill received $5.5million as well as interest-free loans.
Destination marketing agencies also received $1.9million.
Mr Nash also visited Invercargill earlier in the day to get updates on the inner-city development and a chocolate company, both recipients of government funding.
He would visit Queenstown, Arrowtown and Cromwell today.
Rotary club secretary Sarah Greaney said the meeting went well, and there was an open and honest conversation.
“I think he will go away knowing how resilient our community is, but ... the community wellbeing aspect was shared loud and clear.”
