The lockdown easing has been largely well received, but some businesses say it hasn't come soon enough.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this afternoon announced the countrywide lockdown would lift to alert level 3 on Monday.
Alert level 3 restrictions will remain for a minimum of two weeks, before the decision to move is revisited on May 11.
Many reacted with joy that their long-awaited takeaway fix can finally be satiated.
"Is KFC going to be open at 12.00am on 28 April?" asked one on social media.
"Here's to a solid two weeks getting Uber Eats," wrote another.
Under alert level 3, restaurants can offer food to take away - meaning you could be having takeaways for tea next Tuesday night.
Others applauded Ardern's leadership and handling of the pandemic, with the country's efforts resulting in a transmission rate of 0.48 per cent - one of the lowest in the world.
‘NZers have sacrificed too much to start going backwards’. Strong message from Jacinda Ardern today. Makes total sense. We’ve got to just knuckle down and finish what we’ve started. #coronavirusnz #lockdownnz
— Anna Banana (@annanotherthng) April 20, 2020
But today's announcement did little to ease the worries of some restaurant owners. Here's how some sectors have reacted to today's announcement:
Restaurants can operate under a contactless, takeaway system at alert level 3, but it won't be enough to soften the blow, Hospitality New Zealand says.
"With uncertainty around when a return to level 2 will be, in a recent Hospitality NZ survey it was reported as many as 30 per cent of hospitality businesses may not make it through without further Government assistance," chief executive Julie White said.
"The wage subsidy alone is not enough with the losses that the hospitality industry has been carrying for much longer than other businesses — in many cases these businesses won't be here for the 12 weeks to pay the subsidy."
With more than 400,000 Kiwis working in hospitality, White called on the Government to provide more immediate support to the sector.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges said the Government has dropped the ball in its pandemic response, meaning lockdown couldn't be lifted earlier.
"New Zealand is being held back because the Government has not used this time to ensure best practice of testing and tracing and the availability of PPE [personal protective equipment] hasn't been at the standard it should have been," the National Party leader said.
"This is a real shame as businesses will suffer further damage and that will lead to poor health outcomes as a result of the huge stress this will cause for a lot of people."
Bridges said he was sure many Kiwis felt frustrated they couldn't do many of the things Australians have done through the entire lockdown period with similar health outcomes.
New Zealanders can be proud of the sacrifices they have made during this difficult time. This extension shows tracing, testing and PPE has not reached the Govt’s own standards and rhetoric. It must move fast to sort out these issues so we can get our country moving again.
— Simon Bridges (@simonjbridges) April 20, 2020
"I now worry that the harm of staying in lockdown will be greater than if we were to come out. We will no doubt see a rise in mental health problems and stress-related illnesses," he said.
"I also have real concerns about the delay in healthcare for some people, like cancer treatment, screening and thousands of operations across the country."
Act party leader David Seymour said the Government has made the right decision but now needs to clarify the rules so safe activity can resume.
"We welcome the Government's commitment to allowing 'safe' businesses to operate, however it is essential that the rules be clarified in a number of important areas," he said.
"For example, real estate. People who have settled recently risk being homeless if they can't find somewhere else to live. Similarly, changes in relationships and financial circumstances will require new accommodation arrangements, but the Government has sent mixed messages about whether private viewings – not open homes – are permissible.
More freight will be able to move across the country in alert level 3 life, but the Road Transport Forum's chief executive Nick Leggett says the delay is too long.
"It isn't just 'two business days', as many businesses in New Zealand operate seven days," he said.
"Like many businesses, particularly the small and medium-sized businesses, road freight transport has suffered under the alert level 4 lockdown.
"Some of those businesses may not recover, and unfortunately, that will mean hardship for the business owners and the workers they will have to let go. The longer the lockdown, the more businesses that will fold and the more people that will be left unemployed."
The level 3 process for business planning remained murky, as today's announcement only refers to the two-week period before review by Cabinet on May 11, Leggett said.
Meanwhile, the forestry industry will restart under alert level 3, and the Forestry Owners Association (FOA) says its members and the supply chain are gearing up to meet the challenge.
President Phil Taylor said the timber-processing industry had a month's worth of stalled production to catch up on.
"Most of the timber processed in New Zealand is for export and that sector has taken a hit over the past month of lockdown."
"For our log export trade, we felt the impact of Covid-19 back in February with the shutdown in China and our logs sat on the wharves on the Chinese coast when their sawmills stopped working.
"In effect, much of our harvest and logistics labour force has been in lockdown for two months, not just one. We have a lot of catching up to do."
The EMA, the country's largest business service organisation, said that while many Kiwis will be relieved the country is going back to alert level 3 next week, others will be disappointed their sector will continue to be locked down.
Chief executive Brett O'Riley said the Government's approach to allowing people to get back to business safely made sense, and its manufacturing and construction members will be particularly pleased.
The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) is frustrated that fishing from boats for sustenance remains banned under level 3.
"A large number of New Zealand's sustenance fishing public, including NZSFC members and LegaSea supporters, have taken to social media and contacted the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and its subsidiary LegaSea to express their frustration with not being able to get out and catch a feed of fish for the table," a statement said.
It has called on the Government to rethink the ban, saying it posed a lesser risk than many activities allowed under level 3, such as supermarket shopping, mountain biking and children returning to school.
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The Council of Trade Unions said it was important that workers at higher risk of severe illness are encouraged to stay at home under level 3.
President Richard Wagstaff wanted the Government to provide clear advice to employers and working people on what the change in levels meant for those at high risk.
"If someone is unable to work because it would mean putting their health at risk, then they should be supported to stay at home in their bubble," he said.
"Working people need the following assurances; that people can easily self identify if they are high risk, that the essential worker subsidy is extended to cover all employees so that any employer can apply for it, and that employers provide for increased Covid-19 related sick leave."
No one should be penalised for doing their part in preventing the spread of Covid-19, which included supporting those at higher risk, Wagstaff said.
While the lockdown will lessen in one week, emergency services have reminded Kiwis that life won't dramatically change just yet.
Police Association president Chris Cahill told Newstalk ZB people need to stay home as much as possible, as the long weekend approaches.
"We've got this far and we've done so well it would be a real shame to waste that by breaking your bubble, by travelling away for the long weekend, or moving outside your local area."
Police officers will remain "highly visible" throughout the country and continue to educate the public on following the rules and keep Kiwis safe, a statement said.
"Remaining at alert level 4 for another seven days is an opportunity for us all to solidify the efforts of the last four weeks and, if necessary, police will not hesitate to take enforcement action, either through warnings or arrests.
"We urge all New Zealanders to keep up the good work by staying local, maintaining your bubbles and adhering to the restrictions around exercise and outdoor activities."
Fire and Emergency chief executive Rhys Jones urged New Zealanders continue their efforts to halt the virus.
"We ask that you continue to hold off those non-essential outdoor fires so that our firefighters don't need to leave their bubbles unnecessarily," he said.
"Burning rubbish and garden waste is not essential right now."
Auckland mayor Phil Goff says the lockdown lift was due to the collective commitment to follow the rules around staying home and maintaining physical distancing.
"But we can't afford to stop now," he said.
"While the move to level 3 restrictions will allow many businesses in Auckland to resume operations, everyone must continue to comply with the Government safety guidelines to avoid a further outbreak of Covid-19."
Nine more cases of Covid-19 were announced today, with the total number now at 1440 since the start of the pandemic.
The coronavirus has claimed 12 lives in New Zealand, with another death announced yesterday, that of an Invercargill man in his 70s.
Fourteen people remain in hospital, with two of those in a critical condition.
The total of confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand was now 1431, and 912 people had recovered.
• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website
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