A timelapse of Rotorua as Level One saw the city alive again.
There were feelings of happiness and relaxation in Rotorua today as businesses fully opened their doors under level 1.
New Zealand moved to the lowest Covid-19 alert level at midnight, removing most restrictions on gatherings.
Guidough's Bakery owner Guido Bachmann said on Tuesday morning he was thrilled to be goinginto level 1 and was excited to have all the friendly faces back in store again.
Guido Bachmann from Guidough's Bakery. Photo / File
"Limiting cafe numbers has a huge effect on our bottom line, this will make a huge difference for us."
Owner of Hennessy's Irish Bar Reg Hennessy said a lot of stress had been lifted after an extremely difficult few months. Photo / File
She said they would still ensure hand sanitiser was available and QR codes would be visible for anyone wanting to contract trace.
Hennessy's Irish Bar owner Reg Hennessy said a lot of stress had been lifted after an extremely difficult few months.
He said he was looking forward to seeing his pub full again and people sitting at the bar with a pint. Saturday was expected to be chokka as Super Rugby kicked off again, he said.
"I'm really looking forward to it. You don't realise the things you'll miss until they're gone."
Ponsonby Rd Lounge Bar and Our House general manager Hapeta Manley. Photo / File
Ponsonby Rd Lounge Bar and Our House general manager Hapeta Manley said all the staff were "looking forward to seeing the regulars and getting people back out on the dance floor".
The bar was reopening on Friday with Manley saying he expected lines "all the way down Eat Streat".
He said they would not have been able to reopen if it hadn't been for locals coming down and spending at Our House over level 2 and 3.
Big changes were coming to the bar, which Manley said the customers were going to love.
He took his staff rafting on Monday to thank them for their hard work over the last few weeks and to support another local business.
Rotorua Lakes Council underlined that from today, council venues would begin to operate without alert level restrictions and all parks, playgrounds, public toilets and recreation areas would open.
Council-owned freedom camping sites in the city would also reopen.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard told the Rotorua Daily Post on Monday he expected the move to level 1 to have a lot of positives.
"The difference is obviously going to be around public spacing and public gatherings.
"There are a lot of hospitality-type businesses who are still slowed down through the spacing requirements and can't fit enough people in. Ones I've spoken to have mostly said they are operating at 70-80 per cent of their capacity [in level 2].
"A lot are saying they think they can survive but they are worried about winter and a possible further dip to come."
Heard said, with no active cases of Covid-19 left, the public would have to confidence to get back to normality and further supporting local businesses.
"Enabling people to get back to normal in those public spaces will make a big difference, it will help sport, it will help events, it will help hospitality-type businesses."
